WILLEMSTAD – PAR Member of Parliament Shaheen Elhage is demanding clarity from Education Minister Sithree van Heydoorn about Curaçao’s teacher shortage and whether schools are adequately prepared for the 2026–2027 academic year.
In a letter dated July 27 addressed to the minister through Parliament President Fergino Brownbill, Elhage said reports of a serious shortage of teachers ahead of the new school year are cause for concern. He stressed that every child in Curaçao should be able to start school without delays, organizational problems or classrooms left without teachers.
Elhage wants the government to disclose how many teaching vacancies remain open, how many new teachers have already been hired and how many teachers recruited abroad are still waiting for work or residence permits or recognition of their diplomas. He is also asking whether an emergency plan is ready if all vacancies cannot be filled in time.
Another concern is the time required to complete administrative procedures for teachers recruited from abroad. According to Elhage, reports in the media indicate that these procedures can take considerable time. He wants to know what concrete measures the Education Ministry has taken with other ministries to accelerate the process.
The PAR parliamentarian is also seeking an update on government commitments to improve teachers’ salaries, the job classification system and general working conditions. He wants Van Heydoorn to explain what has already been accomplished, what improvements will be in place before schools open and how these measures are expected to help Curaçao retain teachers.
Elhage further asked whether the government can guarantee that all children will be able to attend school from the first day, that classes will not regularly be canceled because of teacher shortages and that schools will not have to rely on temporary solutions for extended periods.
While acknowledging efforts by the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport to improve the education system, Elhage said transparency also requires the government to speak openly about the challenges it faces.
He described the teacher shortage as a serious problem requiring swift action. According to Elhage, filling vacancies on time, accelerating administrative procedures and ensuring schools receive the resources they need could prevent significant problems when students return to the classroom.