Quality of childcare in Caribbean Netherlands improved, staff remains bottleneck

KRALENDIJK – The quality of childcare on Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba has improved since the Education Inspectorate began its supervision in 2020. Children are being better supported in their development and locations are more actively working to improve quality. This emerges from the fourth inspection round in 2025, as reported by the Caribbean Netherlands Public Service (RCN) in a press release.

In 2025, the inspectorate visited all 79 locations for day care, out-of-school care and family day care, together with local inspectors. The inspection assessed whether locations meet requirements in the areas of administration, staffing and accommodation, whether they are safe and healthy, and whether children are sufficiently stimulated in their development.

Pedagogical staff are increasingly responding to children’s developmental needs and encouraging interaction. Management at more locations is also fostering a professional culture and promoting expertise. Children are more frequently monitored systematically, although targeted support for children requiring extra help or challenge could still be improved at around half of the locations.

Staffing remains the key bottleneck: finding enough well-trained employees is difficult, and not everyone holds a valid Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG) — something the inspectorate describes as "extraordinarily vulnerable". Minister Vijlbrief (SZW) acknowledges this and wants to allow VOG applications from European Netherlands to simplify the process. He is also calling on employers and employees to discuss better terms of employment and a collective labour agreement, while the Ministry of Education (OCW) is working on a structural training offering.

Childcare organisations are continuing to work on quality with support from the BES(t) 4 Kids programme, which provides coaches, training and resources via best4kids.nu.

Since 1 January 2026, the Childcare Act BES has been in effect and the inspectorate now supervises under a new research framework. Reports will henceforth be published at toezichtresultaten.onderwijsinspectie.nl.

The full inspection report is available on the website of the Education Inspectorate; Minister Vijlbrief’s response can be read here.