AIRPORT--Acting Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport (ECYS) and sitting Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA), Richinel Brug, said on Sunday that government will do its utmost to protect the local labor market so that students studying abroad can return to meaningful opportunities at home.
Brug made the remarks as 25 young St. Maarteners departed the island to further their education in the Netherlands. The group represents the 2025 cohort of study financing recipients who will begin their higher education journey across several Dutch cities this month.
“The intention is for them to come back,” said Brug. “We as government provide them with study financing to develop themselves. And especially in my role as Minister of VSA, I will do my utmost best to protect the labor market, so that when they are ready to return, there is something to come back to.”
Minister Brug acknowledged the reality that some students may choose to stay abroad, but emphasized that collaboration between the Ministry of ECYS and the Ministry of VSA is ongoing to improve reintegration efforts. He said more proactive communication between students and the ministries can help government anticipate their return and ensure smoother transitions.
“If the students let us know a year or two before graduating that they are coming back, we can align our labor needs accordingly. For example, if a permit is issued for a foreign worker in that sector, we can make sure it doesn’t extend beyond the period the student is expected to return. That way we create space,” he explained.
Brug also offered heartfelt advice and encouragement to the students departing, telling them to stay focused, embrace the independence that lies ahead, and never lose hope.
“This is one of the most important moments in their lives. They are going into uncharted waters with certain expectations, but they will encounter many new experiences,” he said. “There are mentors, guidance counselors and a support system waiting for them in the Netherlands. And if that’s not enough, they can always reach out to their families and even back to us here in St. Maarten.”
The departing students will be welcomed upon arrival at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam by Minister of ECYS Melissa Gumbs, who is already in the Netherlands. The students will then participate in a two-day orientation program at the hotel where they will be staying, before heading off to their respective cities of study.
Brug reflected on his own time studying abroad, saying he was envious of the journey the students were about to embark on. “If there’s one part of my life I could relive, it would be this chapter. It’s a memorable experience—where you become independent, figure things out for yourself and truly grow.”
The government continues to place emphasis on supporting students before, during and after their studies, with the long-term goal of welcoming them back home as skilled contributors to St. Maarten’s development.
