WILLEMSTAD – The shortage of teachers in Curaçao’s education system has reached a “critical” level, according to the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, Sithree van Heydoorn. In written responses to questions from the Curaçao Parliament, the minister warned that the situation is placing increasing pressure on schools and the quality of education.
Van Heydoorn explained that the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport is working on a broad education strategy, based on recent studies and baseline measurements. However, progress has been slowed by limited inspection capacity and a shortage of legislative lawyers, which has led to delays in inspection reports and education-related legislative processes.
According to the minister, efforts are now underway to catch up. Inspection reporting is expected to return to schedule from 2026 onward. In parallel, the ministry is developing new funding models, legislation and quality frameworks for education, which are projected to be introduced during the 2027–2028 school year.
To address the teacher shortage more structurally, the ministry is also focusing on improving employment conditions, certifying currently unqualified teachers and strengthening cooperation with local and international educational institutions. Van Heydoorn emphasized that these measures are necessary to stabilize the education system and safeguard educational quality in the coming years.