NON-STATE ACTORS IN EDUCATION
2.2 Non-state education provision
3.1 Regulations by distinct levels of education
- Early childhood care and education (Entry/Establishment ○ Financial operation ○ Quality of teaching and learning ○ Equitable access ○ Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability)
- Primary and secondary education (Entry/Establishment ○ Financial operation ○ Quality of teaching and learning ○ Equitable access ○ Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability)
- Tertiary education (Entry/Establishment ○ Financial operation ○ Quality of teaching and learning ○ Equitable access ○ Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability)
3.2 Supplementary private tutoring
The Law for basic education- Landsverordening regelende het basisonderwijs of 2015 distinguishes between bijzondere school and openbare school. Openbare school are those maintained by Sint Maarten while bijzondere school are those maintained by a natural person or by a private legal entity. Bijzondere excludes schools managed and operated by foundations.
2.1 State education provision
State schools
The education system in Sint Maarten is derived from the system in the Netherlands. Education is free and compulsory. Compulsory education spans for 14 years (ages 4 to 18) and includes primary, secondary and pre-university secondary education.
The primary education level comprises the Foundation based education (Funderend Onderwijs) for children aged 4-6 and a subsequent level of Foundation based education or primary education for children aged 6-12. Secondary education includes academic basic secondary education (Basisvorming HAVO/VWO) for children aged 12-15 and pre-university secondary education.
The Landsverordening houdende bepalingen tot regeling van de leerplicht of 2015 lays down provisions regulating compulsory education. It establishes in article 7 measures for the provision of food, school uniforms or transportation for young people in need, who, without such support, would not be able to attend properly compulsory education.
Non-state managed, state schools
No information was found.
Non-state funded, state schools
No information was found.
2.2 Non-state education provision
Independent, non-state schools
Non-state schools exist in the country, especially at the early childhood care and education level where private enrolments account for 100% of the total enrolments.
International schools offer English as the primary level of instruction. The International School of Sint Maarten offers education for children aged 3-18 following an international curriculum.
State-funded (government-aided), non-state schools
Primary and secondary education are largely funded by the government. Private government-aided schools represent the biggest share of private education in Sint Maarten. Chapter III of the Landsverordening regelende het basisonderwijs of 2015 establishes the conditions for government-aided non-state schools.
Schools governed by a foundation or by an association or institution with a legal personality that aims to provide education without the intention of making a profit can receive State funding.
Contracted, non-state schools
No information was found.
2.3 Other types of schools
Homeschooling
No information was found.
Market contracted (Voucher schools)
No information was found.
Unregistered/Unrecognised schools
The 2011 UNDP First Millennium Development Goals Report for Curaçao and Sint Maarten indicated that in Sint Maarten undocumented children in the island comprised 10-15% of the school population in 2010. Up to 2008/9 hardly any undocumented children were allowed to go to regular schools leading to the establishment of undocumented private schools on the island offering primary education to the undocumented children. By 2013, the country planned to ensure that all undocumented schools can access public schools.
Education in Sint Maarten is governed by the Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport. The Department of Education is in charge of the provision and preparation of laws and regulations governing matters as it relates to education. Subsidized special school boards are in charge of the management and operation of bijzondere school.
The Landsverordening houdende bepalingen tot regeling van de leerplicht of 2015 includes provisions for parents to guarantee compulsory education for their children. There are different laws governing different education levels: the national order regulating primary education of 2015 (landsverordening regelende het basisonderwijs), the national ordinance regulating secondary education (landsverodening regelende het voortgezet onderwijs).
3.1 Regulations by distinct levels of education
Children aged 4-6 attend pre-primary education in Saint Marteen. All children who attend early childhood care and education attend private institutions.
According to an assessment of the situation of the Early Childhood Development Centre Sector in Sint Maarten after Hurricane Irma prepared by UNICEF in 2020, there isn’t a structure for oversight of the early childhood care and education as a coherent sector, including oversight of the geographic distribution of services, data on participation and demand, planning for transition to school, guidance on governance and management, and supported access to professional development and staff certification.
Currently, the responsibilities of regulation of ECD Centres rely on Inspectorate arrangements in conjunction with inter-ministerial collaboration. According to UNICEF, there needs to be much closer working and collaboration with respect to regulation of ECD Centres wherever they are located on school premises or in private premises.
Registration and approval: No information was found.
Licence: The Minister of Education can refuse an application for a permit under the Ordinance if the programme offers insufficient guarantees for the development of children.
Profit-making: The Ordinance does not prohibit profit-making of ECCE institutions.
Taxes and subsidies: There are subsidies in place for vulnerable families. Currently, the system for financial assistance for vulnerable persons such as a single parent with a young child enables a grant for a one-off payment of USD100, once a year. A letter of guarantee is given to the successful applicant who can use this as a contribution towards the coast of a place at an ECD Centre
Quality of teaching and learning
Curriculum and education standards: No information was found.
Teaching profession: The ordinance mandates for the training of staff working on ECD centres, however, according to UNICEF there is a gap between the professional training offered for staff and programme delivery requirements for support of children’s learning and development
Fee-setting: According to UNICEF, fees on average for all ECD Centres are USD250 per month and can be much higher for example in day care centres attracting high and middle-income families. However, ECD centers often make arrangements to reduce the fees for parents who cannot afford the costs due to hardship or unemployment.
Admission selection and processes: No information was found.
Policies for vulnerable groups. There is no structured approach to accessing children challenged by other forms of vulnerability to ECD Centres.
Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability
Reporting requirements: No information was found.
Inspection: A quality commission conducts inspections and ensures that ECD centers have minimum quality standards.
Child assessment: The day care ordinance does not set out curriculum and programme standards. The ECD Centres in schools and day care centres are not provided with guidance on how to support learning and child development for children 4 weeks to 4 years. The lack of formal guidance on early childhood curriculum and guidelines for programme delivery is one of the main challenges for ECCE institutions in Saint Marteen.
Sanctions: No information was found.
Primary and secondary education in Saint Marteen are governed by the national order regulating primary education (landsverordening regelende het basisonderwijs) and the national ordinance regulating secondary education (landsverodening regelende het voortgezet onderwijs), both from 2015. Both laws establish provisions for public and publicly funded schools and bijzondere schools.
At the primary level most schools are public, with only 2 private schools across the island. there are nine high schools in St. Maarten including one Dutch secondary school and two faith-based secondary schools.
Registration and approval: No information was found.
Licence: Article 46 of the national ordinance regulating primary education establishes that primary education may only be provided by a person in possession of a certificate of competence designated by or pursuant to a national ordinance or any other proof showing that he is sufficiently suitable for the education to be given by him.
Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH): No information was found.
Profit-making: No information was found.
Taxes and subsidies. Private schools can be eligible for public funding by the Minister of Education if a need for funds has been proven.
Quality of teaching and learning
Curriculum and education standards: According to the national ordinance regulating primary education, the head of the school annually designs the curriculum and the timetable after discussion with the joint teachers, taking into account the regulations laid down by or pursuant to the national ordinance.
The competent authority determines the curriculum and the timetable and sends them to the inspector for approval. The language of instruction is also determined in the curriculum.
Textbooks and learning materials: No information was found.
Teaching profession: A primary school teacher can only be appointed as a teacher if it's in possession of a certificate of competence, a medical statement and a certificate of good character issued by the competent authority.
Corporal punishment: Corporal punishment is prohibited in all settings, including the home.
Other safety measures and COVID-19: No information was found.
Fee-setting: No information was found.
Admission selection and processes. No information was found.
Policies for vulnerable groups: If within a reasonable distance of the pupil's home there is no opportunity to follow education at a public school, this pupil may not be refused entry to a private school, unless the school is exclusively intended for internal students.
Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability
School board: The foundation, association or institution can only transfer the management of the school by notarial deed. By this deed, the transferring foundation, association or institution also undertakes to transfer the school buildings, the inventory and the land for which compensation is received and which are its property, and it is determined that the acquiring foundation, association or institution is the head, the teachers and the other staff. The regulation specifies how the school board should be composed.
Reporting requirements: No information was found.
School inspection: Supervision of primary education is the responsibility of the minister. It is exercised under his orders by the director and the inspector.
Student assessment: No information was found.
Diplomas and degrees: No information was found.
Sanctions: No information was found.
The University of St. Martin is the main university in the island. According to Nuffic, it is recognised and subsidised by the government. The university serves the bi-national community of St. Martin's Island and welcomes French and St. Maarteners students.
There is no evidence of a specific regulation governing private higher education.
Registration and approval: No information was found.
Licence: No information was found.
Profit-making: No information was found.
Taxes and subsidies: No information was found.
Quality of teaching and learning
Curriculum and education standards: No information was found.
Teaching profession: No information was found.
Fee-setting: No information was found.
Admission selection and processes: No information was found.
Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability
Board: No information was found.
Reporting requirements: No information was found.
Inspection: No information was found.
Assessment: No information was found.
Diplomas and degrees: No information was found.
Sanctions: No information was found.
3.2 Supplementary private tutoring
No information was found.
Financial operation and quality
No information was found.
No information was found.
