Students eyeing Netherlands studies invited to SSSD Workshop this Thursday

GREAT BAY--Secondary school students and recent graduates interested in continuing their studies in the Netherlands are being encouraged to attend a Student Support Services Division workshop on Thursday, September 17, aimed at helping them better understand the Dutch education system and application process.

The Student Support Services Division (SSSD) of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport will host its “Applying to Schools in the Netherlands” workshop at the University of St. Martin from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The session is geared toward exam and pre-exam class students, as well as recent graduates considering further studies in the Netherlands.

The workshop will explain the main tertiary education pathways in the Netherlands, including MBO, HBO and WO, and will cover both academic and vocational study options. Students will also receive information about institutions offering programs in Dutch and English.

SSSD officials said the cost of studying in the Netherlands will also be discussed, noting that students and parents often assume it is automatically less expensive than studying in the United States or Canada. The session is intended to help families develop a clearer understanding of the financial considerations involved.

Officials also stressed that applying to schools in the Netherlands is not always straightforward. Students need to understand how their qualifications from St. Maarten correspond with requirements in the Dutch education system, particularly as educational policies and requirements can change.

Parents are encouraged to motivate their children to participate. Students should register in advance by calling SSSD at 543-1235 or by visiting the division’s Facebook page and scanning the QR code on the workshop flyer. Questions can also be submitted by email to studentsupportservices@sintmaartengov.org.

Interested persons may also visit the SSSD office in the Gatspy Building on D.A. Peterson Street in Philipsburg, across from the Police Station and next to WIB.

SSSD provides students with services including psychological support, counseling, social work, educational diagnostics and speech-language pathology. The division also offers career services, parent sessions and crisis-response support.

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