WILLEMSTAD – The Education Inspectorate is sounding the alarm in its latest report, warning that the current state of Curaçao’s secondary vocational education (SBO) is actively hindering the opportunities of young people on the island.
According to the report, fragmented organization, weak quality assurance and insufficient student support are making it harder for young people to secure internships, complete their studies on time and transition into the workforce. These shortcomings, the Inspectorate notes, have a direct impact on employment, youth unemployment and social inequality.
The Inspectorate concludes that basic quality standards are not being met across the system. Schools and governing boards differ significantly in how they implement and monitor quality assurance, leaving students dependent on the institution at which they happen to be enrolled. The shortage of qualified teachers and practical supervisors continues to undermine the quality of lessons, assessments and exams. Meanwhile, the report finds the link between vocational programs and the labour market remains too weak to prepare students adequately.
A shortage of internship placements, combined with a fragmented educational offering, compounds the problem. Some students wait months for a suitable internship; others are admitted into programs even when realistic opportunities for practical experience are lacking. This results in study delays, higher dropout rates and a more difficult transition into employment. Even graduates often enter the labor market insufficiently prepared.
The Inspectorate also criticizes outdated qualification frameworks, limited institutional capacity and the lack of up-to-date data needed to shape policy. Some schools barely carry out mandated quality assurance, while others lack the personnel or resources to implement improvements. The Inspectorate describes the disparities between institutions as “substantial,” warning that they create unequal educational opportunities for students.
To address the situation, the Inspectorate recommends closer cooperation between institutions, centralized examination of partial qualifications, modernization of the qualification system and a review of school funding. It also calls for the reinstatement of financial assistance for study costs so more young people can access vocational education.
The report stresses that structural action from school boards, the government and education providers is urgently needed. Without coherent and sustained quality assurance, the Inspectorate warns, young people will continue to be denied the preparation they need to enter the labour market with confidence and independence.