The Study Success for Education Alliance (SEA) program—an important collaboration between the governments and educational institutions of Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and the Netherlands—has been extended until December 31, 2028. The initiative aims to improve guidance for students in choosing studies, facilitate academic and internship exchanges, and better prepare Caribbean students for higher education in the Netherlands or elsewhere.
The announcement was made during the Consultation of Education, Culture, and Science Ministers (M4LO) of the four countries, held in Bonaire. Each year, the ministers responsible for education, culture, and science from Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and the Netherlands meet to discuss cooperation in these areas. The Netherlands also represents Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba during these consultations.
Minister Moes stated: “We want to make the best use of all the talent within our Kingdom. Together with my colleagues from the other countries, we’ve worked hard in recent years to strengthen cooperation between the Caribbean region and the Netherlands in education, culture, and science—and with great success. For example, we’ve built a strong network of teachers, mentors, and support staff both in the Netherlands and on the islands to guide students from the Caribbean part of the Kingdom in choosing the right studies and developing their talents.”
Through the SEA program, students can benefit from Kingdom scholarships for vocational (MBO), higher professional (HBO), and academic levels to pursue studies or internships in other parts of the Kingdom. The program also offers better guidance and mentorship. In the Netherlands, for instance, many higher and secondary vocational institutions have joined SEA to help Caribbean students integrate and progress successfully. Increasingly, universities and colleges organize special introduction days and mentorship programs for students from the Caribbean. Each year, over 1,600 young people from the Caribbean part of the Kingdom begin studies in the Netherlands.
Additionally, ministers agreed to collaborate with educational institutions to promote “brain gain”—encouraging talented graduates to return and work in the Caribbean, addressing local workforce shortages.
Another initiative to strengthen education in the region is the expansion of the successful “Kibrahacha” alliance, which currently focuses on primary teacher training in Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao. Soon, this will extend to secondary and vocational education teacher training, with Sint Maarten and the Netherlands exploring a similar program for the island. Kibrahacha combines traditional teacher education with hands-on classroom experience, with local teachers playing a vital mentorship role for future educators.
Finally, during the M4LO, ministers also agreed on a procedure for submitting nominations to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List on behalf of the entire Kingdom. Professions and traditions such as mulatto artistry, the floral parade (corsocultuur), and Rotterdam’s summer carnival are already on the list under the Netherlands’ name.
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