The Education minister is also expected to make a presentation on how to use technology in education. Leeflang said that the same program is being used in Curacao and while there is concerns on the Dutch language this is program maybe helpful. She said since there are not enough Dutch teachers on St. Maarten the technology program will be useful.
She also disclosed that all the laws on education are now ready and reminded that the islands were implementing several innovations in education was implemented while the laws or legal frame on these innovations were not in place. This she said had applied to foundation base education as well as professional education. This she said was necessary since there were lots of critics on the FBE education program. She said the education report that was conducted showed that the FBE education is the best as long as then infrastructure is in place for the program. The report she said was done by the Dutch government and it showed that the astonishing results of the program. She said she is proud that the Antilles did not wait until the report came out to make the necessary reforms. The Minister said the report in question had stated that the Antilles was dealing with a lost generation.
Leeflang said she intends to conduct a town hall meeting with all those in education especially management team, the school boards as well as the policy makers. Right now she said educators can experiment with education since the law provides for that, however the education reform states that one has to make sure the results are optimal.
Quizzed on the implementing of compulsory education she said this was one of her initiatives based on the DELTA plan which has three objectives which are to decrease the dropout rate, reduce youth unemployment making sure the education system is sufficient for all children.
She said in order to make this reduction a monitoring system has to be in place. The Minister said that she had visited St. Maarten in 2006 and informed the island government about the need for compulsory education. She said even though this was implemented in Curacao and the other Windward islands, St. Maarten had received one year extra to have its act together and prepare for the implementation of compulsory education. This decision she said was made it after consulting with St. Maarten. Leeflang said that in 2008 monies were put aside for the DELTA plan for all the islands. She said the central government did not keep one cent of these monies instead the monies were given to all the islands through the Dutch financing program. She said about 9 million guilders were in place for compulsory education. This money she said is with USONA and she cannot even stop St. Maarten from using this money if they wanted to use it. She warned that the monies should not be used for consultancy but instead the island government should begin to build schools and have teachers follow courses so that they can adequately prepare themselves to become certified teachers.
She said one of the things St. Maarten did was to send her a letter requesting eight million guilders to introduce compulsory education and she indicated to them to begin using the monies they already have. Minister Leeflang said she already inquired from USONA and there is still has monies available for St. Maarten. She said the island still has monies to its disposal for foundation based education and it is her belief that the island government must begin to build more schools because as long as the children are in school something can be achieved for them, however, if there is no school then the opportunity is lost. She said in her opinion St. Maarten has not lived up to their challenge as yet with regards to compulsory education. Asked if she concerned about the influx of children to St. Maarten now that the registration process has begun? Leeflang said the schools are not immigration and the immigration should begin doing their jobs at the airports. She said if these children are not in possession of the legal documents when they enter St. Maarten then immigration should make sure they leave accordingly. She made clear this is an immigration problem and not put this on the schools. Asked what her stance on the so-called illegal schools? She said that all children up to age 18 have to be in school and she does not know if there are rights for illegal schools. She made clear that the island government needs to have government-subsidized schools to accommodate all children. She reminded that the Netherland Antilles are parties to the treaty of the Rights of the Child who are entitled to education. She insisted that all children must be educated and there is no illegal children since these children came to the islands with their parents. The Minister said that these parents are being used in the labor force yet government wants to deny the children of education saying they are illegal and there are not enough schools for them. She said if government wants to regulate this problem then their parents should not be used in the labor market. She concluded that if these children are in the Netherlands Antilles then they must be educated.
