The educational system of the Dutch Caribbean - Rijksdienst ...

01.0The educational systemof the Dutch CaribbeanENGThe educational system ofthe Dutch CaribbeanStarting August 1 st , 2011 schools in Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba will formpart of the Dutch educational system. As of that date schools will be applyingthe Dutch-Caribbean education laws. These laws are based mainly on theDutch education laws, but are adapted to the particular circumstances in theDutch Caribbean.Characteristics of the Dutch education system• Freedom of education (Article 23 of the Constitution):• One is free to found a school and to provide education based on specificphilosophic principles or religion. This means that apart from public schools thereare also denominational schools. In the Constitution public and denominationalschools are treated equally in financial sense. In the education laws there areregulations that denominational schools have to meet in order to become eligiblefor defrayal.• The government determines the ‘what’ and the school the ‘how’:• The government determines ‘what’ should be taught, but it is the school thatdetermines ‘how’ pupils are taught.• Quality requirements are in place regarding the education (the ‘what’). Theserequirements apply to both public and denominational schools and concernprescription of subjects to be studied, core targets/examination programs and thecontents of national examinations, number of teaching periods per year, requiredteaching qualifications, participation and planning and reporting obligations.• The Kingdom government (in this case the minister of Education, Cultureand Science) directs the education applying laws and regulations, thereby takinginto account stipulations of the Constitution. The most important tasks of thegovernment regarding the education are the structuring and defrayal (lumpsum), the care for public schools, the supervision on education, examination andstudent financial aid.• The Inspectorate of Educationsupervises the quality and structureof educational programs in schools.• The local government isresponsible for student transportation,the housing enmaintenance of schools, theexecution of the Youth SocialOpportunity Program (successor tothe Compulsory Social EducationalProgram), adult education, theexecution of the CompulsoryEducation Law, and for publiceducation.• Schools have a legally recognizedcompetent authority, the schoolboard. The school board administratesand manages schools. Theadministration of schools entailsthe care for material aspects of theschool organization, especially the management of operational costs and costsof personnel. The management of schools entails the setting of the contentsof educational policy, the human resources policy (appointment, dismissal,etc.) and the student admission policy. The school board is responsible for thedevelopments in the schools provided there is a legal basis. Delegation of somecompetencies to school management is possible, but the school board remainsultimately responsible.

Compulsory education and initial qualificationsSchematic representation of the education system• Pupils are subject to compulsory education from the age of 4 till the end ofthe school year in which they turn 16 years of age. The compulsory education isfollowed by a compulsory qualification, for those pupils that:• have not yet reached the age of 18;• have not attained the level of initial qualification (a diploma of either havo,vwo or mbo (level 2) is regarded as initial qualification);• are no longer subject to the compulsory education.• The compulsory qualification is a measure to prevent pupils from droppingout, before reaching the initial qualification. The compulsory initial qualificationcommits all pupils that are not subject anymore to the compulsory education, anddo not have initial qualifications, to follow a full time educational program untilthey have attained the initial qualification. This program must be a mixed learningpath, combining learning and working, as is the case with the mbo guidedvocational learning path.Types of schoolsTypes of educationPrimary schoolHigh school*• Practical education (pro)• Preparatory secondary vocational education (vmbo)• Senior secondary education (havo)• University preparatory education (vwo)Ages4-12 years12-18 years12-16 years12-17 years12-18 years212019181716151413121110987654wo (8)vwo (4)hbo (7)havo (3)po (1)= compulsary education + initial qualificationmbo (6)vmbo (2) pro (5)Senior secondary vocational education (4 levels)Higher education**• Professional higher education (hbo)• University (wo)16-20 years17-21 years18-22 years* The educational system in Saba has some differences compared to the rest of the other islands ofthe Dutch Caribbean. For the vmbo (and mbo – level 2) Saba applies the TVET-curriculum and forhavo the CXC-curriculum. TVET and CXC are Caribbean curricula.** Currently the Dutch Caribbean has no higher education except for an UNA branch on Bonaire.1. po: primairy education2. vmbo: junior secondary vocational education schools (previously vsbo)3. havo: senior secondary education4. vwo: university preparatory education5. pro: practical education (previously ago)6. mbo: senior secondary vocational education (previously sbo)7. hbo-bachelor: professional higher education8. wo-bachelor + -master: universityExplanation of symbols on cover:School boardSchool managementTeacherLocal governmentThis folder is a publication of:Rijksdienst Caribisch Nederland, OCWdepartmentFor more information, please consult ourwebsite:www.rijksdienstcn.com