Philipsburg –Every year, the Government of Sint Maarten provides financial support for a number of its students to obtain tertiary education. The granting of Study Financing takes into account current and future labor needs on Sint Maarten. As such, research into the labor market demand is an important part of the development of the Study Financing Priority List. The list should provide the true reflection of the occupational and educational needs of Sint Maarten so that Study Financing recipients have an increased chance of being hired for a job in their specific area of study when they have completed their studies.
The previous Study Financing List will expire in 2022 and so, the Department of Education has begun the necessary steps into the establishment of the Study Financing Priority List 2023-2026. As such, JS Consulting Service, represented by its Research Coordinator Mr. Julio R. Romney has been assigned to conduct research into the short to medium-term labor demand or workforce needs on Sint Maarten in order to facilitate the establishment of the Study Financing Priority List for 2023-2026.
The research team began conducting interviews and focus group sessions with stakeholders as well as carrying out survey questionnaires during the months of December 2021 and will continue to do so in January 2022.
A focus group session with former recipients of Study Financing will be held on January 5, 2022, at 7 p.m. at the New Government Building in rooms 1 and 2. Through this medium, I am inviting persons who received Study Financing between the period 2011 and 2020, who have returned to St. Maarten, to be a part of the Focus Group Session. The objective of the focus group is to learn about the experience of students as it relates to them obtaining Study Financing based on the SF Priority List and their experiences in gaining employment in the labor market after completing their studies. To register for participation, persons who received Study Financing between the period 2011 and 2020 who have returned to St. Maarten are asked to send a brief notification including their name and contact information to the e-mail address This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. I repeat, in order to register for participation, persons who received Study Financing between the period 2011 and 2020 who have returned to St. Maarten are asked to send a brief notification including their name and contact information to the e-mail address This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Refreshment will be served to all focus group participants.
I encourage the community of Sint Maarten, former Study Finance recipients, and the Business Community to provide the necessary support for this research, whether it is to fill out the survey or to take part in interviews, as this information is extremely beneficial in determining Sint Maarten’s Labor Market needs to adequately prepare our students – who are the future of Sint Maarten.
