Early school leavers in Bonaire, Saba or Sint Eustatius may be able to enter the Social Opportunities Track for Young People (SKJ) and receive an allowance. The SKJ gives young people who cannot continue their education and who do not have enough qualifications or experience for a job, the opportunity to complete an educational programme. The executive council of the Public Entities may receive a payment for offering and organizing an SKJ.

Conditions

The early school leaver:

• must be a resident of the Caribbean Netherlands
• must be aged between 18 and 24
• has no entry-level qualification
• has no formal employment
• has no valid reason for not taking any classes at the school where he or she is registered or is not registered at a secondary school or institution for vocational education.

How it works

1. The executive council registers the early school leaver with the island project office.
2. The project office interviews the youngster. And checks whether he or she is allowed to enter the social opportunities track.
3. If the answer is ‘yes,’ the executing organization offers a social opportunities track.
4. The early school leaver applies to the project office for an allowance. The payment is made up of a monthly amount and, if applicable, a contribution towards to the costs of childcare.
5. The project office collects the applications and forwards them to the executive council.
6. The executive council must apply for funding by 1 July.
7. The executive council pays the costs of the track.

Apply for allowance

The executive council must send its application to DUO by 1 July.

Applications must include a budget for revenues and expenses, and:

• the expected number of participants
• the expected amount of the allowance
• the care being purchased from the expertise centre educational care (special needs expertise centre).

Time of payments

The Public Entities of the BES islands receive the administrative decision on the funding request for the next calendar year no later than September. Then, schools will receive payment in March the next year.

Accountability

The executive council adds an appendix to its annual financial report which includes details and explanations on how the allowance was spent.

Email us at caribisch.nederland@duo.nl if you have any questions.