1. Education

1.1 On Curaçao

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.

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1.2 Curaçaoan descendants in the Netherlands

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