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 2,555
Younger than 5 years 328
5 years 303
6 years 308
7 years 282
8 years 291
9 years 326
10 years 333
11 years 309
12 years or older 75
Total secondary education (VO, CVQ, MBO) 2,712
Total secondary general education (VO) 1,793
VO: Practical education 202
VO: Lower forms 803
VO: General programmes 529
VO: Pre-vocational programmes 259
Vocational education - CVQ 64
Vocational education - MBO 855
Male Total primary education 1,303
Younger than 5 years 175
5 years 153
6 years 169
7 years 140
8 years 134
9 years 170
10 years 158
11 years 166
12 years or older 38
Total secondary education (VO, CVQ, MBO) .
Total secondary general education (VO) 924
VO: Practical education 126
VO: Lower forms 414
VO: General programmes 239
VO: Pre-vocational programmes 145
Vocational education - CVQ 36
Vocational education - MBO .
Female Total primary education 1,252
Younger than 5 years 153
5 years 150
6 years 139
7 years 142
8 years 157
9 years 156
10 years 175
11 years 143
12 years or older 37
Total secondary education (VO, CVQ, MBO) .
Total secondary general education (VO) 869
VO: Practical education 76
VO: Lower forms 389
VO: General programmes 290
VO: Pre-vocational programmes 114
Vocational education - CVQ 28
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 2023/’24 are revised provisional and figures over school year and study year 2024/’25 are provisional. All other figures are final.

Changes as of 9 May 2025:
The provisional figures for 2024/’25 on primary education on Bonaire have been corrected. There were 80 pupils not included. In the total of the Caribbean Netherlands, these 80 pupils were included.

When will new figures be published?
In the first quarter of 2026, the revised provisional figures over school year and study year 2024/'25 and the provisional figures over school year and study year 2025/'26 will come available.
The figures over school year and study year 2023/'24 will become final.

Description topics

Participants en students