WILLEMSTAD - It is becoming more difficult for parents to homeschool their children in Curaçao. The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports will be enforcing stricter regulations on exemptions from compulsory school enrollment. This decision follows an evaluation of the homeschooling pilot program, which began in 2018.
To qualify for an exemption, parents must demonstrate significant objections to the direction of all existing school organizations on the island. The evaluation showed that in recent years, parents have not sufficiently met this criterion. Most objections were related to the organization of education, not to its ideological direction.
Additionally, parents must prove that their children receive adequate education. The evaluation revealed that many parents did not use recognized online education programs. Instead, they taught the children themselves, resulting in insufficient instruction in the required educational areas. Reports on educational performance were often filled out by the parents themselves, casting doubt on their reliability.
The number of exemption requests has increased over the past five years. This has led to stricter policies starting in the upcoming school year. Parents who receive a rejection will be required to comply and enroll their child in a school.
Talents
Education in Curaçao is designed to fulfill three functions: qualification, socialization, and allocation. It helps young people develop their talents, acquire social and societal competencies, and have equal opportunities for an appropriate educational career and participation in the labor market.
Compulsory education ensures that all young people receive education and acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to function in society. Parents are required to ensure that their child is enrolled in a school and attends classes there unless an exemption is granted.