WILLEMSTAD - According to the Minister of Finance, Javier Silvania, the Ministry of Social Development, Labor and Welfare (SOAW) is in the process of starting a new vocational training institute to replace the Feffik vocational training school, which has since been liquidated.
He answers this in writing to questions previously asked in Parliament about the settlement costs of Feffik. The new institute to be established focuses on training the working population, it is explained in more detail, but 'recruiting staff has not yet been discussed'. And, the minister adds: "The vocational training has been offered by SBO (secondary vocational education) Nilda Pinto since 2019."
Occupations include mason, carpenter, plumber, and welder. “In addition, education, training and courses are offered through the public courses and through the Ministry of SOAW,” Silvania adds.
With regard to the current costs at Nilda Pinto, the minister explains that the financing is in accordance with the rules for education funding, so that the costs for administrative and teaching staff, among other things, fall within the existing standards. "In addition, the costs for management and administration are shared with other public schools," said the minister. He indicates that the subsidy for Feffik was an average of 4.5 million guilders per year, which was not sufficient because of the high overhead costs, which are no longer incurred.
In response to a Member of Parliament's comment that after the closure of Feffik there will be insufficient vocational training courses, the minister states that there are currently seven government-subsidized institutes charged with training professionals.