WILLEMSTAD – Although the number of students on Curaçao is declining due to low birth rates, migration, and families leaving the island, this trend does not automatically result in smaller classes or less pressure on schools. 

According to Royla Paula-Pierre of the RKCS (Catholic Schools) and Thomas Domhoff of the VPCO (Protestant Schools), many schools are instead forced to merge classes, creating groups with more than 30 students per classroom. 

Financial Risks for Schools 

The decline in student numbers also brings financial risks. Schools that fall below a certain size threshold lose their eligibility for government subsidies, which can threaten their long-term viability. 

Overcrowding in Some Schools 

At the same time, other schools face the opposite problem. The VPCO reported over-enrollment, with nearly 700 children and their parents turned away this year due to a lack of available spaces. 

The situation highlights the complex challenges facing Curaçao’s education sector: a shrinking overall student population, a continuing teacher shortage, and an unequal distribution of students across the island’s schools.