The Openbaar Avond Beroepsonderwijs Aruba (OABA) marked a historic milestone with its very first graduation ceremony, proudly awarding diplomas to 56 students who completed their programs.
Director Carlos Martinus expressed his deep satisfaction with the results, calling it a “very successful year” for the institution. The graduating class included 34 assistant-level students and 22 students who completed MBO Level 2, equivalent to EPB-level vocational training.
“What makes this even more meaningful,” said Martinus, “is that many of the assistant-level graduates had never earned a diploma before. Some couldn’t finish EPB or MAVO in the past, and now they finally hold their first official certificate.”
Martinus confirmed that 22 out of the 34 assistant-level graduates have already enrolled in Level 2 courses, and many from the Level 2 group have expressed interest in continuing to Level 3. “This shows we are building a full pathway,” he noted. “OABA now offers Levels 1 through 4.”
He also highlighted the effectiveness of the updated schedule, which reduced classes from four nights per week to three. One of those nights is now dedicated to self-study at home, a change that has worked out well. Despite challenges—such as students working late shifts or being on-call—Martinus praised the dedication shown.
“These 56 students demonstrated that they could handle the pressures of both work and education,” he said. “They faced the same curriculum and expectations as full-time daytime students.”
The director emphasized that OABA provides digital resources and remote support for students who miss classes, ensuring they can catch up. “Our teachers are dedicated, just as they are during the day,” Martinus said. “And our commitment is to guide every evening student toward success.”
