PHILIPSBURG:--- The Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth & Sport (MECYS), through the Division for Educational Innovation (DEI), announces a successful first week of the Professional Development in the Dutch Language project. Hosted by the Milton Peters College (MPC), subject and language teachers took part in practical, interactive workshops on Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) and on creating highly contextual, language-rich lessons with support from AI.
The trainings held during the week of October 14 -17, 2025, were delivered by Bureau NVT (Ms. Petra Roël and Mr. Guus Perry) and was attended by all Dutch as a Foreign Language (NVT) secondary-level education teachers, as well as the MPC subject teachers.
To support ongoing learning, the project’s online platform includes a CLIL theory library and a catalogue of previously developed, freely accessible materials. This ensures alignment with earlier projects and developments, building on proven practice rather than reinventing the wheel. Teachers will also be able to share, review, and reuse their newly developed lessons. In addition, the teachers will have access to a website for the full duration of the project, which will enable them to develop Dutch-supported lessons, free of charge. This will encourage collaboration and continuous improvement.
During the week, NVT teachers also collaborated to align their curriculum goals, sequencing, and classroom approaches. They held a constructive dialogue with a representative from MECYS, where they shared ideas on resources that will enrich their curriculum. This joint effort signals a strong, shared commitment from all stakeholders to work together and raise educational standards across Sint Maarten.
The week concluded with a strong set of lesson plans shared on the platform. Among them, a geography lesson stood out for its creative integration of language learning, featuring Sint Maarten’s beaches, activities, and local imagery. Drawing on insights from the training and AI tools, the lessons showcased how subject learning and Dutch language development can go hand in hand to benefit local students.
This project is a collaboration across the education ecosystem, involving MECYS, with support of Division of Examinations, Division of Inspection ECYS, and the Division for Educational Innovation. As a next step, teachers will apply the new knowledge and tools in their classrooms. The project will continue with follow-up activities, including additional sessions, lesson coaching, and sharing of results to further strengthen practice and impact.
“This approach helps students build subject knowledge and Dutch proficiency at the same time,” stated lead trainer, Ms. Petra Roël. “I was deeply impressed by the teachers’ hard work this week and their commitment to developing accessible, context-rich lessons. Dutch is a foreign language for the students on Sint Maarten, and they have a right to explicit language support at their level. With targeted support, AI, and open material sharing, we’re expecting to see practical benefits in classrooms across Sint Maarten.”
“As the Manager of the Division for Educational Innovation, I am happy to see this innovative program being executed in the secondary schools. The objective of this training is to equip the teachers with their lesson preparations, instructions, and assessment, which in turn will enhance the participation and performance of their students,” stated Ms. Oralie Boirard.
"I’m truly proud of our teachers for the energy and effort they’re putting into this. Learning in the Dutch language isn’t always easy for our students, but when teachers bring real-life examples and creativity into the classroom, it makes a big difference. This kind of teamwork and innovation is what will keep lifting education on Sint Maarten to higher heights. It’s about helping our students feel confident in both the language and the lessons they learn," stated Minister of Education, Culture, Youth & Sport, Ms. Melissa D. Gumbs.
