PHOTO CAPTION:Research team members Tineke Drenthe, Monica van Leeuwen-Laan and Rose Mary Allen meeting with a group of children during a painting lesson at the Bethel Methodist School on Sint Eustatius.
Last week, a study group paid an initial visit to Sint Eustatius within the scope of a feasibility study regarding the instruction language. The feasibility study follows the linguistic study "Language of instruction in Sint Eustatius", which was conducted in 2013. This linguistic study had proven that the population of Sint Eustatius is of opinion that students should learn to master both English and Dutch at an adequate level.
The study group is formed by education expert Tineke Drenthe, the Curaçao anthropologist Rose Mary Allen, Antilles expert professor Gert Oostindie and professor in education Wim Meijnen. The first visit was made by Tineke Drenthe and Rosemary Allen, with the support of secretary Monica van Leeuwen-Laan of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sciences. During this first visit the team spoke with many education stakeholders and experts.
The second visit to Sint Eustatius will be made by the entire study group, and is planned for the week of April 7th next. On that occasion the group will also visit Saba. The draft report will be discussed with commissioner of Education Zaandam (Sint Eustatius) early in June. The State Secretary of OCW (Ministry of Education, Culture and Science) and the executive council of Sint Eustatius will discus the results of the feasibility study during the Caribbean Netherlands week in June next.
The objective of the feasibility study is to make it possible for State Secretary Sander Dekker of OCW to take a well-founded decision in June next on the language policy to be pursued in Sint Eustatius. If it is decided to proceed to adaptation of the instruction language regime, it will be laid down in the law. The regime will then apply to all schools on the island.