School leadership
2.1. Leadership standards and roles
2.2. Selection and working conditions
2.3. Leadership preparation and training
3. Teachers, parents and students
3.1. School management committees and boards
4.1. Autonomy of school leaders
4.2. Assessment and accountability of school leaders
4.3. Teacher assessment by school leaders
1. Terminology
The primary and secondary education sectors in Sint Maarten each have their own set of rules and laws, known as “Landsverordeningen”, which translates to “National Ordinances” in English.
The 2015 National Ordinance Regulating Primary Education refers to the term “hoofd van de school” for ‘‘head of school”.
Article 34 of the 2015 National Ordinance Regulating Secondary Education outlines the titles for individuals in leadership roles within educational institutions. It distinguishes between the titles of a "rector" and "directeur". Individuals at the helm of schools for preparatory science education “voorbereidend wetenschappelijk onderwijs” are designated as "rector", or principal, while those leading other types of schools are referred to as "directeur ”, or director (art.34).
2. School principals
2.1. Leadership standards and roles
Competency standards and leadership frameworks and guidelines
The 2015 National Ordinance Regulating Secondary Education and the 2015 National Ordinance Regulating Primary Education outline the roles and responsibilities of school heads, principals and directors for their respective sectors.
Roles
Setting expectations/objectives: According to Articles 22-23 or the 2015 National Ordinance Regulating Secondary Education, the principal or director of the school annually designs the “schoolwerkplan”, or school work plan, including the organization and objectives of the school, which is then subsequently approved by the minister or school management body
Developing teaching and learning: According to Article 23 or the 2015 National Ordinance Regulating Secondary Education, the school work plans that the principal or director are responsible for preparing include the curriculum, teaching methods, educational resources, and class and general school schedule.
Promoting collaboration: Per Article 22 or the 2015 National Ordinance Regulating Secondary Education, the school work plan prepared by the principal or director is done collaboratively with the teachers. However, per Article 30 of the 2015 National Ordinance Regulating Secondary Education, the health surveillance of the schools which includes the buildings and school is exercised by the Minister.
Supporting staff development: The 2022 Sint Maarten Education Review mentions that teacher training is to be improved, but no information specifically targeting the principal or director’s role in staff development.
Acting in accordance with the ethical principles of the profession: No information has been found.
Others: The principal or director and their deputies may have some teaching obligations in addition to their administrative duties. The extent of their teaching responsibilities would be determined by the regulations set forth by the ministerial authority, per Article 34 of the 2015 National Ordinance Regulating Secondary Education.
2.2. Selection and working conditions
Degree requirements and prior teaching experience
According to Article 34 of the 2015 National Ordinance Regulating Secondary Education, a candidate for the school principal or director position must meet the criteria for being appointed as a teacher in one of the subjects taught at the school. However, exceptions can be made in special cases with approval from the competent authority and the Minister.
According to Article 35, The qualifications for teachers include proof of teaching competence, evidence of pedagogical and didactic preparation, a certificate of good moral conduct, and a medical declaration confirming fitness for the teaching position. Exceptions may be granted by the Minister based on extraordinary competence or excellence. Teachers may also teach subjects beyond their initial competence level under certain circumstances. The Appendix to the National Ordinance on Secondary Education includes the certificates required for teaching qualifications in each subject.
Appointment decision
Article 39 of the 2015 National Ordinance Regulating Secondary Education mentions that the competent authority is responsible for appointing, suspending and dismissing the principal or director.
Employment equity measures
No information was found.
Working conditions
Article 38 of the 2015 National Ordinance Regulating Secondary Education specifies that salaries and allowances for principals, directors, teachers, and other staff are determined by national decrees, established by the minister, public body, or school board for rectors and directors.
The 2016 National Education Remuneration Decree highlights the application of salary scales and steps referred to in Appendix A to the Civil Service Remuneration Scheme to education personnel as well as the determination of salary based on job valuation in the education job classification upon appointment or employment (Articles 2-3). However, it does not specify the level of a principal or director on the salary scale.
2.3. Leadership preparation and training
Pre-service training
No information has been found in national laws and policies regarding specific pre-service training for school principals or directors. However, per Article 34 2015 National Ordinance Regulating Secondary Education, those appointed as a principal or director must meet the criteria to be appointed as a teacher. Per Article 35, this includes proof of sufficient pedagogical and didactic preparation, which is detailed in an appendix.
Induction and in-service training
No information has been found in national laws and policies regarding in-service training for school principals or directors.
3. Teachers, parents and students
3.1. School management committees and boards
According to the 2015 National Ordinance Regulating Secondary Education, management bodies are categorized into two types: 1) Public Body “openbare orgaan” for a public school “openbare school”, or School Board “schoolbestuur” for a special school “bijzondere school”.
Per Article 40a, a public body “openbare orgaan” oversees and manages one or more public schools. This management body is responsible for all duties and powers related to the operation of the schools, except for decisions regarding school closures. Its composition, appointment of members, budget adoption, and supervision are conducted by the minister. The board of the public body reports annually to the minister and holds public meetings unless specified otherwise in the decree. If the board fails to fulfill its duties adequately, the minister has the authority to intervene and even dissolve the public body if necessary.
Per Article 48, a School Board “schoolbestuur” ensures the management of a special school which regulates its own method of election of members, and authority of the parent committee.
3.2. Middle leaders
Article 34 of the 2015 National Ordinance on Secondary Education underscores the role of teachers, appointed by the competent authority, to assist the principal or director and to replace him in his absence. These teachers are referred to as vice-principals and/or deputy directors.
3.3. Parents
The 2015 National Ordinance on Secondary Education states that all public schools should have a parent committee, “oudercommissie verbonden”, unless there has been an explicit exemption from the minister. Per Article 22, “the structure, the method of electing the members and the powers of the parent committee are regulated by national decree containing general measures”. Per Article 42, in a special school, the structure, the method of electing the members and the powers of the parent committee are arranged by the school board.
However, the 2022 Sint Maarten Education Review mentions that parental involvement is limited to issues linked with their children, “such as grades and disputes, but not with regard to school policies”.
3.4. Students
The 2022 Sint Maarten Education Review aims to “formalize the establishment of a joint participation council in which teachers, parents and students are represented and give it legal status”.
4. Governance
4.1. Autonomy of school leaders
Article 38 of the 2015 National Ordinance Regulating Secondary Education states that the competent authority, which can be the minister or a public body, is responsible for awarding salaries and allowances to the principal or director, teachers, and staff. Per Article 39, the competent authority also has the authority to appoint, suspend, and dismiss them. In the case of a special school, the school board hold this authority. Article 43 of the ordinance specifies that “teachers are appointed by the minister after receiving notice from the principal or director of the school to which the appointment will be made” whereas “the transfer of teachers and the appointment of deputy principals or deputy principals are made by the minister after receiving notice from the principals or principals of the schools concerned”.
4.2. Assessment and accountability of school leaders
The 2015 National Ordinance Regulating Secondary Education states that the oversight and maintenance of quality education falls directly under the jurisdiction of the Minister, with implementation carried out by the Education Inspectorate. Per Article 2, inspectors from the Inspection Division are given the authority to have continuous access to the school. Not only does the Inspection Division consult the school boards and the school management team, but also according to the 2022 Sint Maarten Education Review, inspectors conduct interviews with school principals during their school visits.
4.3. Teacher assessment by school leaders
Among the list of duties the Inspection Division undertakes includes verifying the qualifications of teachers and evaluating their teaching methods. The 2022 Sint Maarten Education Review highlights that inspectors visit schools, observe lessons and conduct on-site interviews with teachers, students and other stakeholders.
