WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao's Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, Sithree van Heydoorn, appeared before the Curaçao Parliament on Thursday, November 12, 2026, to answer questions concerning union action and safety conditions at schools across the island.
The parliamentary question session, known as Vragenuur, focused specifically on the topic of "Union Action and Safety at Schools," reflecting concerns surrounding the education sector and the need to address issues affecting school environments.
Minister Van Heydoorn in Parliament
The session was requested by Member of Parliament Gilbert Doran, who initiated the parliamentary questioning and was the first to address questions to Minister Van Heydoorn.
The minister attended the meeting to provide responses to the issues raised regarding union activities and school safety.
Parliament Examines Education Sector Concerns
The session provided an opportunity for members of Parliament to question the minister directly about matters related to the education sector.
Union action and school safety were the central subjects of the discussion, bringing attention to the responsibilities of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports in addressing concerns affecting schools.
Following Doran's initial questions and the minister's responses, Acting President of Parliament Giselle Mc William opened the floor to other parliamentarians.
Members were given the opportunity to submit additional questions related to the same subjects, allowing the discussion to extend beyond the concerns initially raised by Doran.
Minister Van Heydoorn subsequently responded to the additional questions.
Parliamentary Oversight of School Safety
The question session formed part of Parliament's oversight responsibilities, through which elected representatives can seek explanations from government ministers about policies, decisions, and developments within their portfolios.
School safety remains an important responsibility of the education authorities, while union action can raise questions about working conditions, institutional responsibilities, and the functioning of schools.
The parliamentary proceedings offered an opportunity for these subjects to be addressed directly with the minister responsible for education.
However, the official information released about the session did not provide details of the specific questions raised, the minister's answers, or any commitments made during the meeting.
It also did not indicate whether new measures concerning school safety or union-related matters were announced.
After the minister completed his responses, Acting President Mc William formally closed the session.
The meeting placed union action and school safety on Parliament's agenda, with the education minister called upon to account for the government's handling of these issues.