Minister Sithree van Heydoorn has made the decision to increase subsidies for children aged 0 to 4, addressing the growing need for this support.
WILLEMSTAD - The government has established a primary and essential goal to ensure that all children in Curaçao aged 0 to 4 receive quality preschool education. It is scientifically proven that the developmental phase from ages 0 to 4 is crucial for establishing a solid foundation for further education. Two key tools the government employs to achieve this goal are providing subject-based subsidies (allocated to the child for a set number of children) and continuously monitoring, supporting, and improving the quality of preschool centers.
Additionally, the rising cost of living has significantly impacted the entire community, including preschool centers. Considering these two factors and their relationship to the management of preschool education, the Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports (ESKD), Sithree van Heydoorn, through the Department of Culture and Sports (SKD), responsible for non-formal education, has decided to increase subject-based subsidies. This subsidy is provided by the government for children aged 0 to 4 attending preschool centers that are registered with and monitored by the government.
Another aspect of managing these subject-based subsidies involves implementing more targeted and stringent controls. Preschool centers have until 2025 to meet and comply with government quality requirements. In the future, adherence to the "Childcare Law" will be mandatory to qualify for the subject-based subsidy.
The process of implementing the adjusted management approach for subject-based subsidies has been underway since late August. Additionally, the increase will take effect starting September 2024.
Given the importance of keeping preschool centers and the community well-informed about the upcoming changes, the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports, through the Department of Culture and Sports, held informational sessions for all registered centers. The centers attended in large numbers, demonstrating their interest in receiving the information while also sharing points for the government to consider in its management and implementation processes.
The Ministry of ESKD continues to work harmoniously with the centers, ensuring that these efforts ultimately benefit children aged 0 to 4.