WILLEMSTAD – Growing concerns are being raised about the academic performance of students in Curaçao, particularly in mathematics and other science-related subjects, following reports that large numbers of students are receiving failing grades despite receiving additional support throughout the school year.
Parents have increasingly voiced frustration over examination results, claiming that in some classes more than half of the students failed mathematics or other exact sciences such as physics. The concerns come shortly after the completion of the 2025-2026 examination period, which involved hundreds of students across the island's secondary education system.
According to several parents, students attended tutoring sessions and extra lessons throughout the year, yet the additional support did not translate into significantly better results. The situation has sparked questions about whether the current educational support system is functioning effectively and whether enough communication exists between schools and parents.
One of the main criticisms centers on what educators often refer to as the "education triangle" – the cooperation between students, parents and teachers. Concerned parents argue that communication between schools and families appears to be lacking, making it difficult to identify learning problems early and address them before examination periods.
The issue is particularly important because mathematics and science subjects are considered critical for students pursuing technical, engineering, healthcare and scientific careers. Poor performance in these subjects can limit opportunities for further education and future employment.
Education experts have long warned that mathematics performance is influenced by multiple factors, including teacher shortages, classroom size, curriculum challenges, student motivation and parental involvement. Similar concerns have been raised in previous years throughout the Dutch Caribbean and other parts of the Kingdom, especially following disruptions to education caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
While official island-wide pass and fail statistics for the current examination cycle have not yet been fully analyzed publicly, the growing complaints from parents suggest that the issue may warrant closer examination by education authorities.
Several parents are now calling on schools and the Ministry of Education to provide a detailed assessment of the examination results, particularly for mathematics and science subjects, and to determine why so many students continue to struggle despite receiving extra academic support.
They also want greater dialogue between teachers, school administrators and families to ensure that learning difficulties are identified earlier and that students receive targeted assistance before reaching their final examinations.
As Curaçao continues to invest in education and workforce development, the performance of students in mathematics and science is likely to remain a key topic of discussion among parents, educators and policymakers in the months ahead.