To that effect, the school system can be divided into: public schools, private schools funded by government and private schools that are not funded by government. Students enrolled in the public and private subsidized schools for the 2003-2004 school year totaled 7698. Of this amount 1026 were in kindergarten education, 3957 in primary education and 2715 in secondary education.

Private subsidized and private non-subsidized schools are managed by school boards. The school board for public education is the Executive Council. 74% of the total school enrolment can be found shared among eight private school boards funded by government. However, the school board with the largest enrolment is the public schools (26%) of the total school population. The largest private-subsidized school board is the Catholic with and enrolment of 1567 students (20.3%) of the school population.

The school system of St. Maarten is designed to:
• nurture and develop good citizens whose concerns will be about the social and economic well being of St. Maarten;
• provide a sound academic, vocational and special education for each student that is in keeping with the student's interests and abilities;
• develop scientific and technical skills and the knowledge essential for life in an ever-changing world.
• provide opportunities and experiences that would enable all students to develop sound values in character development within a cooperative environment.
• produce lively minds capable of rational questioning and arguing yet tolerant of the rationally held opinions of others.
• transmit those elements of our culture which are worthy of passing on.
• To foster interest in and develop skills in sport and recreational activities.
• develop skills of literacy and numeracy.
• develop communication skills, especially in speech and writing.

The school system on St. Maarten has for decades been patterned after the education system in the Netherlands. Education was primarily offered in Dutch but in the 1970’s education in the English language became possible with the emergence of two school boards, the Foundation for Academic and Vocational Education (FAVE) and the Foundation Methodist Agogic Centre (MAC). Today, education is available where the language of instruction is either Dutch or English. The system of education on St. Maarten is so diverse that it encompasses Dutch, Caribbean and American systems of education.
Education on St. Maarten is managed at two different levels, Federal and Insular. The tasks and functions of the Ministry of Education are laid down in Federal Ordinances governing education. The prime responsibilities being, policy development, structuring legislations, organization of the education system and maintaining the standard and quality of education. The Executive Council and the Insular Department of Education are responsible for financing (teacher emoluments, scholarships, school bus transportation, teaching and learning materials), psycho-diagnostic testing, and provision of vocational guidance.

There are regular opportunities extended to parents to visit the school and meet with the teachers. Parents are encouraged to visit the school at times other than when things go wrong. Such sessions are beneficial to parents as well as to teachers. Schools on St. Maarten are depending more and more on conferences to add to information given and received through report cards and letters. Teachers cannot be on their best in educating the children in their care without the help and cooperation of parents. Parents can supply valuable information which can help the teacher to understand the child better. Added to that, the teacher can offer invaluable suggestions to parents on how to help educate and discipline the child effectively.

The government of St. Maarten can be described as liberal with its policy on scholarships to students that have completed secondary education. At present there are some 690 students pursuing higher education in the Netherlands, other islands of the Caribbean, the United States, Canada and the Netherlands Antilles as well as at our own University of St. Maarten. Some students are able to privately fund their own studies. However, most of the students receive study financing to complete their higher education. Upon completion of their studies, the recipients are required to repay 60% of the financing received. Students completing graduate studies are given a full loan to read for their degrees.

Following the World Education Conference in Jomtien, Thailand in March of 1990, actions were taken globally to meet Basic Learning Needs. Through these developments, major changes were being made to the system of education on St. Maarten and the Netherlands Antilles in general. These changes are still being realised, primarily through Federal and Insular initiatives. The concept of Basic Secondary Education, Foundation Based Education, the integration of Junior General Secondary Education (MAVO) and the Pre-vocational Education (BVO) into the Preparatory Secondary Vocational Education (VSBO). The integration of Senior General Secondary Education (HAVO) and Advanced Secondary Education (VWO) into Preparatory Higher Education (VHO) and Secondary Vocational Education (SBO). The School system was divided into three cycles. The first cycle encompasses the former kindergarten groups and year 1 and 2 of the primary school. Cycle 2 includes Grades three through 6. To date the cycle process is not quite complete. Training and retraining of teachers to meet the challenges of teaching and learning in a changed environment has become a norm. The guidance towards realizing a new and improved education system is being spearheaded on St. Maarten by the Innovations Bureau.
It must be stated, however, that the initiatives towards an improved system of education is affected negatively by the critical financial state of the Netherlands Antilles. Innovations, though necessary, are expensive, especially in a system where presently about NAF. 54,000,000 is spent on education which amounts to 1/3 of government’s annual budget.