"Here is a passion for teaching and learning that doesn't let scarcity of resources and local concerns become barriers." That was our primary response, as we members of ASCD's Executive Council visited schools, talked with educational leaders and students, and met with government officials on the Caribbean island of Curaçao.
To further ASCD's goal of internationalization, the Executive Council holds one meeting each year outside the United States. The members of Curaçao ASCD hosted us in November. The hectic schedule we followed meant exhausting days, but we gained a special appreciation for the ways Curaçao educators are constantly striving to improve practices.
Curaçao is one of five islands that make up the Netherlands Antilles. (The others are Bonaire, St. Maarten, Saba, and St. Eustatius.) Curaçao is located 35 miles from the coast of Venezuela, which has influenced the island through an influx of Spanish culture and the establishment of a large oil refinery to process Venezuelan oil. The island's population of 160,000 people represents nearly every nationality and race in the world. Here, diversity of peoples is expected and embraced.
Important Issues
In Curaçao 80 percent of the schools are private and the rest public. All are funded by the government, and paretns are given choice in what school their children will attend.
Three major issues shape the way education is delivered in Curaçao. One is language. The major language spoken in Curaçao is Papiamentu, a mixture of Dutch, Portuguese, Spanish, and African languages. The language of instruction shifts from Papiamentu to Dutch in the primary schools. This switch from the native tongue is difficult for some students, as Papiamentu continues to be spoken in the home and among the young people socially. Curaçao ASCD has launched a campaign to have Papiamentu taught in the early primary grades (at least) until a firm language base is established.
A second major issue that affects the education system is the two layers of government. The central government for the Netherlands Antilles is located in Curaçao and consists of a governor, ministers, and the parliament. The Minister of Education is responsible for curriculum content and the qualifications of teachers. In addition to the central government, Curaçao has an island government, which includes the Commissioner of Education, who regulates the financing of education. These layers of educational governance make decision making complex, as each layer has disparate responsibilities.
The third major issue is scarcity of resources. Supplies, materials, and equipment are in short supply in most schools. In general, the principal gets 75 guilders ($60) per year for each student to purchase materials in the primary schools, 125 guilders ($100) for secondary students. The principal also gets about 1,000 guilders ($800) per year per classroom for all maintenance costs, including electricity and water.
Positive Attitudes
In spite of funding limitations, education in Curaçao is changing. At the secondary level, the five-year general education model and the six-year college preparatory program are being integrated. Plans to merge separate vocational programs will eliminate rigid tracking of students. Students already spend extensive time in vocational practice as opposed to seat-time study. High standards have been established for preprimary education.
Educators in Curaçao don't use low funding as an excuse; they maintain a positive attitude toward learning, which is instilled in students. Students show respect toward their teachers and toward one another, we noted.
We Executive Council members will fondly remember this study of the Curaçao education system. The eager, friendly faces of the students, the collaborative teams of teachers and administrators, the openness of government officials in discussing issues, and the hosting of our visit by Curaçao ASCD members will remain pleasurably imprinted in our minds. This visit, like other international visits, gives us the knowledge and power to achieve the goals in ASCD's strategic plan for improved services and commitments to our members worldwide.
