WILLEMSTAD – The director of the Roman Catholic School Board (RK Schoolbestuur), Royla Paula-Pierre, has expressed concern that Curaçao's schools could face greater challenges in retaining teachers as salaries on neighboring Bonaire are set to increase again later this year.
According to Paula-Pierre, she has received information from colleagues on Bonaire indicating that teachers there will receive another salary increase starting in September 2026. She warned that the widening pay gap could make teaching positions on Bonaire increasingly attractive compared to those in Curaçao.
"If teachers can earn significantly more on Bonaire, there is a real risk that some educators will choose to relocate," she said, adding that this would place Curaçao's schools and school boards at a competitive disadvantage.
The concern comes as Bonaire, part of the Caribbean Netherlands, continues to benefit from Dutch-funded improvements in employment conditions for education personnel. In recent years, the Dutch government has implemented several salary increases and labor agreement adjustments for public sector employees, including teachers, as part of broader efforts to strengthen public services and improve living standards in the Caribbean Netherlands.
In late 2025, the Dutch government also approved a revised labor agreement for public employees in the Caribbean Netherlands that significantly increased salaries, replacing a previously planned 1.5 percent increase with a 5.5 percent raise and guaranteeing a minimum gross salary increase for employees.
Education leaders in Curaçao have repeatedly warned that competition from neighboring islands and the Netherlands makes it increasingly difficult to recruit and retain qualified teachers. While Curaçao and Bonaire are only about 80 kilometers apart, teachers on Bonaire work under the Dutch education system and generally receive salaries and employment benefits that differ from those offered on Curaçao.
Paula-Pierre believes the anticipated September salary adjustment could further widen that gap, increasing the likelihood that experienced educators will seek employment abroad.
The issue comes at a time when Curaçao, like many Caribbean jurisdictions, continues to face teacher shortages in several subject areas. Education stakeholders have argued that improving salaries and working conditions will be essential to maintaining a stable teaching workforce and ensuring the quality of education on the island.