OCW will invest 7.6 million U.S. dollars; the Saban Executive Council will invest 1.3 million U.S. dollars. Construction works will start already during the summer holidays.
Since schools in the Dutch Caribbean are part of the educational system of the Netherlands, the Minister of Education, Culture and Science (Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap – OCW) Marja van Bijsterveldt-Vliegenthart made extra funds available for the improvement of education. ‘Education of good quality requires an attractive, healthy and safe learning environment. I am pleased that together with the Saban island government we can work on good education for pupils. Good school buildings for pupils and teachers are literally the foundation on which Saba is building a learning environment full of opportunities,’ Minister Van Bijsterveldt-Vliegenthart stated. For that reason, she made means available to improve school buildings. Since the transition of October 10th, 2010 school housing is a responsibility of the island government. The minister wants to support the Public Entities by bringing the school buildings in a good condition, so that afterwards the island can provide for the maintenance of the buildings.
Last year the minister pledged an amount of 7.2 million dollars for the school buildings on Saba. Since then it appeared that the plans for the construction of a new community school (brede school) to be built in The Bottom almost doubled in cost. Therefore, the minister decided not to build a new community school and opted for a full refurbishment of the existing school buildings in St. Johns. That can be done quickly and within the available budget, so students and teachers can use the new school buildings earlier than expected. Besides, many of the facilities appropriate for a community school can be realized in St. Johns.
Minister Van Bijsterveldt-Vliegenthart raised her contribution of 7.2 million dollars to an amount of 7.6 dollars. The island government of Saba stated that additionally 1.3 million dollars drawn from the so-called increased ‘vrije uitkering’ will be made available.
In the coming months the island government and the OCW will further elaborate together on the masterplan for this total of 8.9 million dollars. Nevertheless, now that
there an agreement about finances is reached, improvement of the school buildings can be started at once.
Agreement for improvement school buildings Sint-Eustatius Executive Council and OCW to invest together Commissioner of Education Glenville Schmidt and the minister of Education, Culture and Science (Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap – OCW) Marja van Bijsterveldt-Vliegenthart are pleased to announce that an agreement has been reached concerning the joint financing of the updated master plan school housing. Because of this they can go ahead in full speed to improve school buildings on Sint-Eustatius. The Executive Council will invest 4.0 million US dollar, whilst the ministry of OCW will take an amount of 6 million US dollar for its account ‘It is important to create a good working environment for all teachers and moreover a safe and pleasant schools for pupils on Sint-Eustatius’, minister Van Bijsterveldt-Vliegenthart indicated.
Island government collaborates Since the transition of October 10th, 2010 school housing is a responsibility of the island government. Together with the Public Entity OCW now wants to bring the school buildings in good standing, so that afterwards the island can provide for the maintenance of the buildings.
The plans for the school buildings on Sint-Eustatius incur a total cost of 10 million dollars. The island government has now decided to contribute 4.0 million dollars in total for the coming years out of the so-called increased ‘vrije uitkering’. ‘With this plan we can eliminate the worst backlogs in the maintenance of the school buildings. This gives the Public Entity the space to execute its responsibility for the regular maintenance in an effective way. We can then also better look ahead to the long-term necessities of school housings. The Public Entity is grateful for the productive collaboration with the minister in this area’, Commissioner Schmidt declared.
Quick improvement buildings
Previously OCW had pledged 2.9 million dollars. This contribution has now been increased to 6 million. Part of the available funds was already used to realize the roof outside of the middle ground at the Gwendoline van Putten School and for emergency repairs on the roof of the Golden Rock School.
In the coming months the Public Entity together with the OCW will further elaborate on the master plan on Sint-Eustatius schools, for this total amount. However, now that an agreement has been reached on finances, improvement of the school buildings can start at full speed. For example with the new construction at the Governor de Graaff School and the expansion at the Gwendoline van Putten School. After the execution of the plan, all schools shall have good accommodation.