To support this effort, Calvin Mardembrough has been appointed as an adviser. A former education policy officer in Sint Maarten, Mr Mardembrough brings over 40 years of experience in policy development and student support within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Over a three-month period, he will assist the local government in designing an effective, sustainable, and culturally relevant scholarship and study support programme.
“We are seeing a clear shift, with more and more of our young people pursuing their academic future in English-speaking countries,” the Statia Government stated. “As a government, we want to support them and ensure that financial barriers do not stand in the way of accessing appropriate and quality education.”
The planned programme will focus on:
· Assisting students with study choice and admissions
· Establishing partnerships with institutions in the region, Canada, and the United States
· Signing Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to create affordable educational pathways
· Offering training for local guidance counsellors
· Creating a list of recommended institutions and programmes
· Developing long-term solutions for study financing outside the Dutch system
This initiative also complements existing athletic scholarships and other international opportunities increasingly available to students from St. Eustatius.
The Statia Government emphasises that this development is intended to provide greater educational choice, improved support, and equal opportunities for the youth of St. Eustatius, regardless of where they choose to study.
