PHILIPSBURG:--- Rather than complaining, it is wiser to research what options there are for continuing your education. This is applicable especially to graduates from Sundial school, Milton Peters College VSBO, and the St. Maarten Academy PSVE.
Consequently, the Student Support Services Division (SSSD) of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth & Sport will be hosting a workshop entitled “My PBL, PKL and TKL Education and Beyond” on Tuesday, October 18, 2021, from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM to highlight the abovementioned.
According to SSSD officials, the graduates from these vocational schools have the possibility of continuing their education in St. Maarten, Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, the Netherlands, United States, or Canada, but they have to be aware of what their options are and what it takes to be successful.
The SSSD officials added that many students in Voorbereidend Secundair Beroepsonderwijs (VSBO) or Preparatory Secondary Vocational Education (PSVE) – PBL, PKL, and TKL – often need clarity about their options after graduating. VSBO is offered at the Milton Peters College (PBL, PKL and TKL streams) and at the Sundial School (PBL and PKL streams). PSVE is offered at the St. Maarten Academy PSVE (PBL and PKL streams). For many students or graduates of the VSBO/ PSVE secondary school systems on the island, the question of ‘What is next?’ after their education, often poses a challenge.
“During this workshop, students will realize that there are many studies or educational opportunities for them and they have to be determined, focused, and have the aptitude to successfully complete the requirements at the next level,” the SSSD officials said.
The workshop is open to students in the last two years of the PBL, PKL, and TKL sections and recent graduates. Parents are also encouraged to attend this workshop to get an understanding of what the options are for their children who are being educated in these systems.
There are ways and means for these graduates to continue their studies if they wish, but all these different opportunities have specific requirements and the graduates should be aware of these requirements. Attendants of this workshop will also be explained some of the technicalities associated with moving from vocational to academic education as well as moving off-island to study.
“The path from one educational system to another may not be straight, but possible, and it is up to the student to take advantage and apply themselves accordingly,” the SSSD officials noted.
The “My PBL, PKL, and TKL Education and Beyond” workshop will highlight both opportunities to study in English as well as in Dutch. Students are encouraged to register in advance for the workshop so an invitation can be emailed to them. Students can also click “Join” on the link on the Student Support Services Facebook page. If parents or students have any questions on these workshops, they can contact the Student Support Services Division at telephone 543-1235 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.
The Student Support Services Division (SSSD) provides services to students referred by the schools such as psychological services, counseling services, social work services, educational diagnostic services, speech-language pathology services. SSSD also provides general services such as career services for students, parent sessions, and crisis response.
