ChatGPT says; Educational Challenges

1. Education

Structure & participation

Compulsory education lasts about 14 years; primary school is 6 years. CEIC Data
Recent CBS/UNESCO analysis shows:
- Participation in secondary education rose from 39.2% (2011) to 41.0% (2023). Cuatro
- The share of people with tertiary education as highest completed actually declined slightly, from 5.0% to 4.5% over the same period. Cuatro
- VSBO (preparatory secondary vocational education) is the highest completed level for ~36% of the population, which shapes the island’s skills profile. Cuatro
Tertiary gross enrolment is around 15–20% depending on the year and source (World Bank / UNESCO). Trading Economics

Brain drain

Every year, ~300–400 students leave Curaçao to study in the Netherlands, and only about 5% return, leading to a significant loss of human capital for the island. Cuatro

So: access to basic education is relatively broad, but transition into higher education and local retention of talent are weak points.

Who are we talking about?

In 2023, there were about 144,800 people of Curaçaoan origin in the Netherlands, making them the largest Dutch Caribbean group there. Wikipedia

Study success & obstacles

Caribbean students (including those from Curaçao) in Dutch higher education:
- Less than 50% obtain their Bachelor’s degree within the nominal period, lower than the average for other groups. Erasmus Magazine
- In MBO (vocational level), around 50% of Caribbean students get a diploma within four years, versus ~75% for other students. stmaartennews.com
Documented challenges include:
- Financial stress, housing problems, and loneliness. Delta+1
- Language issues (Dutch academic language vs Papiamentu home environment). Nationale ombudsman
- Less access to preparatory guidance, mentors, and networks compared to many European Dutch peers. Nationale ombudsman

Policy response

The Strategic Education Alliance (SEA) between Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten and the Netherlands:
- Aims to improve study preparation, guidance and success for Caribbean students. english.rijksdienstcn.com
- Has been extended to 2028 and includes Kingdom Scholarships for exchanges and internships. bes-reporter.com+2Openrijk

For CuraCollect (education pillar), this points to:

Huge need for:
- Study-choice coaching (for both Curaçao-based and diaspora youth)
- Navigating scholarships and SEA/Kingdom schemes
- Language/academic skills bridging
- Mentoring by older Curaçaoan students/professionals in NL