ORANJESTAD, Aruba — Aruba student athletes now have access to a new personalized education program designed to help young people combine formal secondary education with intensive sports development.
Minister of Education and Sports Gerlien Croes announced the launch of the pilot program at Juliana School MAVO, where a group of young football players connected to the Aruba Football Association’s Talent Academy will combine their academic studies with structured training.
The initiative was developed with support from the FIFA Talent Development Scheme, or TDS, which has helped establish the AVB Talent Academy in Aruba.
Officials from Dienst Publieke Scholen, representatives of Juliana School, parents and student-athletes from the AVB FIFA Academy attended the launch.
Combining Education With Athletic Development
Croes described the initiative as an important step toward creating a more flexible education system in Aruba.
The objective is to give talented young athletes enough space to develop in their sport without sacrificing their formal education.
Under the program, Aruba student athletes will follow personalized and partly digital lessons based on their academic level.
Students with MAVO, HAVO or VWO recommendations can receive educational content through digital licenses while following schedules designed around both schoolwork and football training.
Rather than following exactly the same daily schedule as other students, participating athletes will have their studies coordinated with their training requirements.
The goal is to create a better balance between academic responsibilities, athletic development and recovery.
Juliana School Hosts Pilot Project
Juliana School MAVO is serving as the starting point for the new approach.
Participating students are officially connected to Juliana School but will follow a different educational program from the school’s regular student population.
The group will have its own classroom, laptops and access to digital educational materials based on each student’s academic level.
They will also be able to use the football facilities at the complex for training.
Schedules will be coordinated between the school and coaches from AVB and FIFA so students can complete their academic work while maintaining the intensive training required for high-level football development.
Croes said Juliana School played an important role in making the pilot possible by remaining open to trying a different approach to education.
Preparing Athletes for Opportunities Abroad
One reason behind the project is the increasing number of talented Aruban footballers who receive opportunities to continue their development overseas.
Some young players may eventually move to the Netherlands or another country to pursue football opportunities.
However, transferring between education systems can sometimes create challenges.
Parents may also prefer that their children continue studying within a familiar Dutch-language educational structure while pursuing sports opportunities.
The new program is intended to give Aruba student athletes greater academic continuity while allowing them to develop toward international sporting opportunities.
Personalized Education Could Expand
Croes said Aruba has discussed the need for greater flexibility and personalization within education for several years.
Private schools have already introduced some flexible approaches, particularly for students with demanding athletic schedules.
The minister believes the public education system must also be willing to innovate.
If the Juliana School pilot produces positive results, the government intends to explore expanding personalized education to additional schools in Aruba in the coming years.
Croes said the initiative could eventually extend beyond football and provide a model for students whose talents or circumstances require more flexible education.
Investment in Aruba’s Educational Future
The minister described personalized education as an investment not only in sports but also in the future of Aruba’s education system.
Teachers, schools and government institutions will need to adapt as technology and individual learning needs increasingly influence how education is delivered.
The pilot officially began on August 21, 2026.
For the first group of Aruba student athletes, the program represents an opportunity to pursue academic qualifications while continuing intensive football development through the AVB FIFA Academy.
Officials will now monitor the pilot to determine whether the model can eventually be expanded across Aruba, giving more young people the flexibility to continue their education while pursuing exceptional talents and ambitions.
