Overview of the General Education System

Before it was dissolved in 2010, the Netherlands Antilles included five Caribbean islands. It was composed of Curaçao, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, Saba, and Sint Maarten. These islands operated as an autonomous region within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. After 2010, Curaçao and Sint Maarten became autonomous countries. In contrast, Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius were integrated as special municipalities of the Netherlands.

Despite these changes, the education system structure largely retained Dutch principles and frameworks. The education system in these islands was meticulously crafted to empower every child in their pursuit of reaching their utmost potential. This approach is closely aligned with the principles of Dutch educational philosophy, which emphasizes personalized learning, critical thinking, and creativity.

The education system comprised primary, secondary, pre-university, and vocational tracks. Primary education covered ages four to 12 and was compulsory for 10 years. Approximately 32% of the population completed primary schooling, but only about half of these students proceeded to complete secondary education. These data reflect a national literacy rate of approximately 96.7%.

Secondary education, for ages 12 to 16 or 18, branched into either a general academic stream or a technical or vocational stream. The secondary completion rate was around 38%, which indicates a moderate progression rate beyond primary school.

Vocational and technical education was structured under programs such as VSBO (4-year Vocational Secondary School Diploma) and SBO (Professional Secondary School Diploma), preparing students for various trades. Those pursuing academic careers followed the VWO pre-university stream, a 6-year program leading to university admission.

The system's official languages included Dutch and Papiamento, with Dutch being the primary medium of instruction. However, Papiamento, a blend of Spanish, Portuguese, English, and Dutch, was spoken by 65% of the population and used in early childhood education, including kindergartens and primary grades. Dutch was spoken by only 7.3% of the general population.

The Ministry of Education and Culture of the Netherlands Antilles formerly governed education. However, after 2011, this responsibility was transferred to the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science (OCW) of the Netherlands, which applies revised laws for the Caribbean Netherlands education system.

In 2009, the adult literacy rate was 96.4%, with near similarity between sexes. High school enrollment stood at 78%, and the average adult had approximately 14 years of schooling.

Compulsory education in the Netherlands Antilles spanned ages 6 to 17. This totals 11 years of mandatory schooling. Children began primary school at age six and complete six years of education. The subsequent five years were spent in secondary school, where students could select between general academic, technical, or vocational streams.

The compulsory education system aimed to equip students with basic competencies, though continuation beyond secondary school was less frequent, as indicated by the lower secondary completion rates. While early childhood education (before age six) was available, it was not mandated.

Higher education in the Netherlands Antilles was limited due to its small population, yet it maintained a few significant institutions. The main public university, the University of the Netherlands Antilles (UNA) was established as a law school in 1970 and upgraded to full university status in 1979. It provided degrees in law, social sciences, and economics, and engineering disciplines such as architecture, electrical, civil, and mechanical engineering.

Admission to the UNA typically requires completion of the VWO diploma. Bachelor’s degrees historically took four years, but post-2008 reforms introduced three-year bachelor’s programs, followed by two-year master’s degrees.

Post-secondary education also included vocational and professional academies. Two private institutions such as the St. Martinus University and the Caribbean International University began operations in 2002, which expands the region’s academic offerings.

In addition, primary school teacher training was available at a college in Curaçao, consisting of two years of blended theory and practical coursework plus one year of practical experience. Secondary school teachers needed a Bachelor of Education from UNA, with HAVO or VWO completion as an entry requirement.