WILLEMSTAD - Seven school boards on Curaçao sent a letter to The Hague six months ago. School boards see a major problem in education. The young people in Curaçao have fewer opportunities compared to their peers in the Netherlands.
Many schools in Curaçao have been using outdated textbooks for years. There is a lack of money and that is shows in the school furniture, buildings and facilities. The corona pandemic has only increased the backlog. The Dutch schools provided distance education, which was often not possible in Curaçao.
The letter that was sent to The Hague did set something in motion. The Dutch House of Representatives held a meeting with the school boards in April. On Curaçao itself, they have carried out a baseline measurement to identify the shortcomings of education.
Many young people leave for the Netherlands to continue their education there. Many Curaçao students have a hard time and drop out before they have completed their diploma or propaedeutic year. This is also stated in various expert reports.
The cultural difference, homesickness and the Dutch language all play a role in this. The poorer starting position due to education in Curaçao probably also.