Minister Croes Clarifies Department of Youth Affairs Was Never Shut Down Amid Restructuring Plans

ORANJESTAD (AAN):minister Gerlien Croes clarified during Monday morning’s parliamentary meeting that the Department of Youth Affairs (DMH) was never shut down, countering claims made by opposition members on multiple occasions.

The Meeting, Which Focused On

The meeting, which focused on the Crèche and Kinderopvang (childcare) legislation, also addressed the future of DMH. Minister Croes explained that the department remains responsible for executing youth-related management policies on the island.

The new childcare legislation aims to create a smoother transition from daycare centers to primary school (kleuterschool). The law seeks to ensure not only the safety of minors at childcare facilities but also their developmental readiness for formal education.

A report by the Department of Human Resources (DRH), finalized in June 2025, revealed that DMH’s responsibilities have steadily expanded, with additional tasks often uncoordinated with the department’s core service activities.

The same DRH report, referencing the

A Report By The Department

Landspakket findings, noted that youth affairs management falls under a total of 15 government services and foundations. Executive responsibilities are spread across the Department of Social Affairs, Bureau Sostenemi, DVG, Justice, Labor, Education, Integrity, and Sports. Given this broad distribution, the minister stated that youth management cannot fall under a single department alone.

Against this backdrop, Aruba has been advised to establish an Integrated Youth Management section within the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) or the Ministry of Education.

DRH further confirmed that all DMH employees were properly contracted, holding either standard contracts or OVO arrangements. The department’s official recommendation was to eliminate DMH entirely. However, the decision was postponed pending the definition of the Integrated Youth Management structure and which directorate would assume responsibility.

To move the process forward, the minister appointed a Kwartiermaker (quarter maker) tasked with conducting an evaluation and proposing the ideal youth management model for Aruba. Initial steps have already included meetings with all childcare centers and the Directorate of Education (Directie Onderwijs).

The discussions with the Directorate of Education resulted in a proposal to separate management oversight from educational quality control. Management would fall under the Department of Education, while educational oversight would be handled by the Inspectorate of Education (Inspectie Onderwijs). Additionally, safety control measures are being developed in collaboration with the Police Academy (Academia Policial) to create a specialized enforcement officer (BOA) training program.