Eslyn Henley Richiez Learning Centre Marks One
One month after its October 13 opening, the Eslyn Henley Richiez Learning Centre — the first purpose-built special education school in the OECS — is reporting tangible improvements in student engagement, routines and wellbeing. The Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports and its partners say families, teachers and students are already feeling the benefits of specialised classrooms, therapy and sensory rooms, and outdoor learning spaces.
One month after its official opening on October 13, the Eslyn Henley Richiez Learning Centre is settling into its role as the British Virgin Islands’ first purpose-built special education school and a milestone for the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). The newly rebuilt facility was delivered by the Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports in partnership with the Recovery and Development Agency (RDA), Unite BVI, the Maples Group, TigerQi Architecture and Autland Heavy Equipment Co.
Ltd., the Ministry said in a government statement. The opening ceremony included remarks from Premier Honourable Dr. Natalio Wheatley, Minister for Education Honourable Sharie B. de Castro, Minister of Communications and Works Honourable Kye M. Rymer, representatives from the Caribbean Development Bank, the RDA’s Board, and donor partners Unite BVI and Maples Group.
At the centre of the message was a decades-long vision realised: a modern, fully equipped learning environment tailored for exceptional learners. According to the Ministry, the building was designed with features such as specialised lifts, hygiene areas and adaptive equipment to ensure accessibility and dignity for all students.
Principal Magdalene Alister described the past month as "uplifting and transformative," telling the Ministry that students have settled quickly into specialised classrooms, therapy spaces, sensory areas and outdoor learning environments. She said staff are already seeing "measurable gains in student engagement, confidence, sense of belonging, and progress" as the new spaces empower and support learners’ needs.
Special Education Teacher Elaine Malone-Lewis told government media that the new layout has improved day-to-day routines and fostered greater independence. With well-organised, spacious classrooms, appropriate lighting, nearby bathrooms and intentional safety features, Malone-Lewis said lessons and transitions now flow more smoothly.
She also highlighted the sensory room as a calm space for students to self-regulate and refocus, and praised the outdoor classroom for encouraging exploration and confidence-building. School Counsellor Tarriesha Dawson echoed those observations, noting that moving away from the previous open-concept arrangement into separate, tailored classrooms has reduced overstimulation and improved learning conditions.
Dawson described the therapy and sensory rooms as "God-sent," saying they provide safe, interactive environments that ease transitions back into class and support emotional regulation. Minister de Castro reflected on the emotional and practical significance of the project in a post-ceremony interview, saying that walking through the completed building and seeing parents’ and educators’ gratitude was deeply moving. "This building is not just modern—it's a statement that every child in the Virgin Islands matters," she said in remarks published by the Government of the Virgin Islands.
Now operating as a functioning learning environment, the Centre represents a long-awaited step toward more inclusive education in the BVI. The Ministry, through Information Officer Ms. Angelique Lettsome, reiterated its commitment to strengthening support for exceptional learners and ensuring that every student has access to compassionate, tailored educational spaces.
Families, staff and partners say their excitement and gratitude underline the Centre’s early success; the Ministry and its collaborators will continue to monitor outcomes and support the school as it moves beyond its opening month.
Primary source: BVI Government