Caribbean Netherlands; pupils primary and students secondary education

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Gender Pupil characteristics Participants en students (number)
Total male and female Total primary education 2,723
Younger than 5 years 342
5 years 338
6 years 325
7 years 332
8 years 308
9 years 316
10 years 347
11 years 317
12 years or older 98
Total secondary education (VO, CVQ, MBO) 2,804
Total secondary general education (VO) 1,829
VO: Practical education 212
VO: Lower forms 802
VO: General programmes 513
VO: Pre-vocational programmes 302
Vocational education - CVQ 44
Vocational education - MBO 931
Male Total primary education 1,366
Younger than 5 years 159
5 years 178
6 years 165
7 years 183
8 years 150
9 years 145
10 years 178
11 years 155
12 years or older 53
Total secondary education (VO, CVQ, MBO) .
Total secondary general education (VO) 931
VO: Practical education 142
VO: Lower forms 387
VO: General programmes 228
VO: Pre-vocational programmes 174
Vocational education - CVQ 25
Vocational education - MBO .
Female Total primary education 1,357
Younger than 5 years 183
5 years 160
6 years 160
7 years 149
8 years 158
9 years 171
10 years 169
11 years 162
12 years or older 45
Total secondary education (VO, CVQ, MBO) .
Total secondary general education (VO) 898
VO: Practical education 70
VO: Lower forms 415
VO: General programmes 285
VO: Pre-vocational programmes 128
Vocational education - CVQ 19
Vocational education - MBO .
Source: CBS.
Explanation of symbols

Table explanation


This table contains information about pupils and students who participate in primary, secondary general and secondary vocational education on the islands of the Caribbean Netherlands. Only education that is funded by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science is included in the tables. The numbers of pupils are given by region (Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba), by age and gender in primary education and by level (as of the 2014/’15 school year) and gender in secondary general education. As of school year 2019/’20 the students of the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) are added; this vocationally oriented education was introduced as of that study year on St Eustatius and Saba. On account of the introduction of the CVQ-system, there are no longer MBO students as of study year 2021/’22 on St Eustatius and Saba.

As of 10 October 2010, the islands of Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba have the status of ‘special municipalities’ of the Netherlands. The education in the Caribbean Netherlands forms part of the Dutch national education system. The Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science is responsible for education policies.

Data available from: the 2009/'10 school year and study year.

Status of the figures:
Figures over school year and study year 2024/’25 are revised provisional and figures over school year and study year 2025/’26 are provisional. All other figures are final.

Changes as of 18 March 2026:
- The provisional figures over school year and study year 2025/'26 have been added.
- The revised provisional figures over school year and study year 2024/'25 have been added.
- The final figures over school year and study year 2023/'24 have been added.

When will new figures be published?
In the first quarter of 2027, the revised provisional figures over school year and study year 2025/'26 and the provisional figures over school year and study year 2026/'27 will come available.
The figures over school year and study year 2024/'25 will become final.

Description topics

Participants en students