Financing for equity in primary and secondary education
1. Education resources to subnational governments
2. Education resources to schools
3. Education resources to students and families
4. Social policies and family support programmes
Introduction
In Sint Maarten, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sports (Ministerie van Onderwijs, Cultuur, Jeugd en Sportheeft or OCJS) oversees education policies and financing on the island. The Department of Education is directly responsible for education policy, law, and regulation.
The government primarily finances public education through direct budget allocations to schools. Prior to 2010, education funding followed the Reimbursement & Accountability (V&V) system. To address the heavy administrative burden of V&V, a lump sum system was later introduced to allow schools more flexibility in managing their budgets while ensuring equitable compensation.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
Sint Maarten's education financing structure is centralised, with funds distributed directly from the Ministry of Finance to OCJS, which then allocates resources to schools.
2. Education resources to schools
In 2019, the Landsbesluit bekostiging onderwijs (National Decree on Education Funding) was introduced to create a formal and transparent financial system for schools. The updated framework considers factors such as education level, type of school, number of students, class size, and school size when calculating funding allocations.
The Bijlage bij Landsbesluit Bekostiging Onderwijs (Appendix to National Decree on Education Financing) provides specific details of the education funding formula. According to the appendix, schools receive a base amount of funding per year to cover operational costs calculated according to the number of enrolled students. The per-student amount differs depending on the level of education, such as primary, secondary, vocational, or special education, and the specific needs of the institution. Additional financial allocations are available for specific needs, such as special education, infrastructure maintenance, and extra support for small schools that may struggle due to lower student numbers. The government directly funds teacher salaries based on standardized salary scales, and the number of teaching positions allocated is determined by set student-teacher ratios. For capital investments, such as new school buildings or major renovations, schools may apply for additional funding. However, these funds are not part of the standard operational budget and require separate approval.
Additional Funding per the National Decree on Education Financing
Schools can apply for additional funding beyond their standard lump-sum allocation to support disadvantaged students, as outlined in the 2019 Bijlage bij Landsbesluit Bekostiging Onderwijs. These funds are intended to provide targeted assistance to pupils requiring extra educational support. At the primary level, additional funding may be granted under Article 46, paragraph 3 of the 2008 Primary Education Ordinance. This provision allows the Executive Council to allocate funds for educational support activities, although the ordinance does not specify the exact nature of these activities. At the secondary level, schools supporting students in preparatory secondary vocational education may receive extra funds under Article 11b of the 2015 Secondary Education Ordinance. This funding is designed to assist students who face “social or psychosocial” barriers to completing their diploma. Schools may use the funds to adjust class sizes, tailor programmes of study, and provide additional attention to help students address gaps in knowledge and support their overall development.
3. Education resources to students and families
At the primary and secondary levels, no Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport-funded initiatives were identified that provide direct resources to students or families.
4. Social policies and family support programmes
Families unable to meet basic needs can apply for financial assistance through the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour. Applicants must be adults, unemployed, and actively seeking work, providing documentation of income and other relevant details. Support can be ongoing or one-time, including assistance for essential school-related expenses such as fees and uniforms.
To further support school attendance, the government provides free school bus services to all children requiring transport to and from school. This programme is administered by the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication.
5. School meal programmes
Sint Maarten currently does not operate a universal school meal programme. The government piloted a school breakfast programme for three months at the end of 2023, but it has been discontinued. A school meal programme was initiated by the Dutch Red Cross in collaboration with OCJS in October 2017 in response to Hurricane Irma. The programme provided hot breakfasts and lunches to students in 18 primary schools. The programme concluded in 2018.
