Free workshop hosted by SSSD. “My PBL, PKL and TKL Education and Beyond”

SINT MAARTEN (POND ISLAND) - Students in Voorbereidend Secundair Beroepsonderwijs (VSBO) or Preparatory Secondary Vocational Education (PSVE) – PBL, PKL and TKL - on St. Maarten have the possibility of continuing their education St. Maarten, Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, the Netherlands, United States or Canada, but they have to be aware of what their options are and what it takes to be successful.

This was noted by Student Support Services Division (SSSD) of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth & Sport while announcing their workshop entitled “My PBL, PKL and TKL Education and Beyond” to be held on October 3, 2019 at the University of St. Martin from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM.

Voorbereidend Secundair Beroepsonderwijs (VSBO) is offered at Milton Peters College (PBL, PKL and TKL streams) and at Sundial (PBL and PKL streams.) Preparatory Secondary Vocational Education (PSVE) is offered at the St. Maarten Academy PSVE (PBL and PKL streams). For many students or graduates of the VSBO/ PSVE - PBL, PKL and TKL secondary school systems on the island, the question of ‘What is next?’ after their education, often poses a challenge.

Student Support Services Division (SSSD) is aiming to show these students that there are many study/educational opportunities for them. These opportunities will be highlighted during the workshop which is open to students in the last two years of the PBL, PKL and TKL sections or recent graduates. Parents are also encouraged to attend this workshop to get an understanding of what the options are for their children who are being educated in these systems.

There are ways and means for these VSBO PBL, PKL and TKL graduates to continue their studies if they wish but all these different opportunities have specific requirements and the graduates should be aware of these requirements. Attendants of this workshop will also be explained some of the technicalities associated with moving from vocational to academic education as well as moving off island to study

“Moving from one educational system may not be straightforward but it is possible and up to the student to take advantage of what is there and they do need to apply themselves,” SSSD officials stated. Many PBL, PKL and TKL students complain that the possibilities of continuing their studies are limited but they don’t realize that they have to apply themselves and be serious about their studies whether pursuing their studies locally or off island.

The “My PBL, PKL and TKL Education and Beyond” workshop will highlight both opportunities to study in English as well as in Dutch. Students are encouraged to be on time and to register for the workshop since space is limited. They are also urged to bring their own writing utensils and come prepared to receive the information being presented. If parents or students have any questions on this workshop, they can contact the Student Support Services Division at telephone 543-1235 for more information.

The Student Support Services Division (SSSD) provides services to students referred by the schools such as psychological services, counseling services, social work services, educational diagnostic services, speech language pathology services. SSSD also provides general services such as career services, parent sessions and crisis response.