Progress on Education Agenda discussed
On Friday Commissioner of Education, Chris Johnson met with Minister of Education, Culture and Science, Maria Bijsterveld via video conference at the Tax Office in the Bottom.
On the agenda were issues that were discussed with the minister during her last visit to the island and during the first Education Conference held on Bonaire in March.
The commissioner requested that two points that have recently been brought to his attention be added to the agenda. The first point was the scholarship amount that is given to students that attend tertiary institutions in the United States, reportedly being reduced from 15,500 dollars. The minister replied that it was the first time that she had been made aware of this and said that it will be made a point of discussion next week when a delegation of representatives from the ministry will be on Saba.
Another point brought by the commissioner, was an issue taken up with him by the school boards , and the difficulty that they are having recruiting teachers ,specifically from the Netherlands ,due to the high cost of living on the island and low salaries compared to those in the Netherlands, this is of particular concern because the Education Agenda mandates that the level of education must be raised in 5 years.
The Minister was able to confirm that all primary schools will receive a 10 per cent increase in the lump sum amount provided to schools. For the secondary schools further research is needed.
On the issue of compulsory education, the commissioner said that the island government has selected, Head of Education, Hemmie van Xanten as the Compulsory Education Officer and has been in discussion with both school boards. The Minister took this opportunity to relay her concerns, about teenagers that become pregnant while attending school, that the education must remain available to them. How this is done has to be worked between Mr. van Xanten, the school boards and other educational institutions.
Concerning the progress of the Education Agenda set in March at the First Education Conference, the commissioner informed the minister that they will setup a board composed of the Commissioner, the Head of the Dept of Education representatives of all educational institutions.
Before ending video conference, the commissioner indicated that during the expansion of vocational education the community must be better informed, because this is a major structural change, to an educational system that has been constant for the last 10 years. Both agreed to do this together so that parents, students and the community at large can understand the benefits of the new system.
In a statement to GIS after the meeting the commissioner said that "It was great opportunity to able to have this discussion with the minister, it is one area where both governments have a mutual understanding and vision."
The Commissioner, who was at church with the primary students prior to the video conference, also took the opportunity to thank all teachers and students for a job well done this school year.
The Minister was also scheduled to have an audience with the Commissioners of Bonaire and St. Eustatius on the same day.