Higher education and science

You will not find any universities or universities of applied science on the islands of the Caribbean Netherlands due to their modest size. When it comes to higher education, therefore, students from the Caribbean Netherlands have to study at an institution in the region or elsewhere, away from their home island. An exception to this is the Teacher Training Programme in Basic Education [Leraren Opleiding Funderend Onderwijs] (LOFO) which is offered on Bonaire. Within the Dutch Caribbean region some students go on to continue their studies at the University of Curaçao (UoC), the University of Aruba or the University of St. Martin (USM).

Since 2020, schools and teacher training institutions located on the Leeward Antilles islands of Curaçao, Aruba and Bonaire have been united within the framework of the Kibrahacha concept for the joint training of teachers.

In the field of science, there is the Caribbean Netherlands Science Institute (CNSI) knowledge centre on St. Eustatius.