THE HAGUE - The so-called 'minister places' - intended to allocate Caribbean students a place to study - will not return after the reintroduction of selection by lottery.
The phenomenon of 'ministerial places' existed until 2017. Since the abolition, students from the Caribbean part of the Kingdom have less chance of being admitted to a college or university due to the distance. This has consequences for the availability of, among other things, local medical specialists. Due to the aging of the population, there is a serious shortage of medically trained people on all islands.
In recent years, former island commissioner in Bonaire Nina den Heyer has repeatedly pointed out the risks to The Hague. Dutch Minister of Education Robbert Dijkgraaf, as it turned out in the parliamentary debate this week, acknowledges the problem, but argued that 'ministerial positions' would be contrary to equal treatment legislation. He announced that his ministry will investigate a solution together with that of Public Health and Welfare. The Chamber was pleased with that.
Basic grant back
The Dutch Parliament has also decided to reintroduce the basic grant and to abolish the loan system. “This also has consequences for residents of the Caribbean Netherlands who are going to study in the European part of the Netherlands. They can apply for student finance and thus also be entitled to a basic grant. This also applies to students from Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten. In addition, former students who studied in the European Netherlands at the time of the loan system may be eligible for the allowance. The BES Student Finance Act will not be changed with this proposal. As a result, students who study in the Caribbean Netherlands or who go to study elsewhere in the Caribbean region, the United States or Canada from the Caribbean Netherlands will not see any changes in their student finance,” says Dijkgraaf.