Unlocking Potential: How Early Learning Assessments Are Changing Education in Sint Maarten

In a classroom on the island of Sint Maarten, a boy hesitantly sounds out the words in a storybook. His voice is soft, but steady. Around him, other children follow along - some in English, some in Dutch. A teacher smiles gently, encouraging each one. This scene might seem ordinary, but it's part of something extraordinary.

For the first time in Sint Maarten's history, educators and policymakers have come together to ask a powerful question: How well are our children really learning? And now, for the first time, they have an answer for early grades, representative at a national level. This was done at the initiative of Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports, to ensure policies and programs are addressing teaching and learning in these areas,

A Multilingual Challenge Meets a Data-Driven Solution

Education in Sint Maarten is anything but simple. At just 34 square kilometers with a population of around 42,000, the island is small - but its diversity is immense. Children here grow up speaking English, Dutch, Spanish, Creole, French, and many other languages at home. In the classroom, however, instruction happens mostly in either English or Dutch.

"We saw that 77% of students in English-instruction schools spoke English at home," one education officer shared. "But in Dutch-instruction schools? Only 16% spoke Dutch at home," said an Officer at the Division of Examination in Sint Maarten.

This mismatch between home and school languages creates daily hurdles for students - and for the teachers trying to help them succeed.

A Historic First

Until recently, there was no national learning assessment measuring how children were performing in reading and mathematics in the early grades, which made it more difficult for teachers to identify who was falling behind and for policy makers to shape reforms with real evidence.

That changed with the launch of the Early Grade Reading Assessment (EGRA) and Early Grade Mathematics Assessment (EGMA) - two tools introduced under the Fostering Resilient Learning Project, backed by the Government of Sint Maarten and supported by the World Bank.

It came at a critical time. The children assessed were part of a generation that began school in August 2020 - in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many started their education online, facing disruptions and setbacks. Fortunately, the government stepped in with targeted support for struggling students, and now, for the first time, the nation can see what worked.

Surprising Discoveries

The results were eye-opening.

Students excelled at decoding words - reading them out loud. But when it came to understanding what they read, many struggled. In math, they were able to solve six additions and four subtractions per minute - which can be considered as average for comparable countries, but comprehension lagged behind speed.

One of the most striking findings? 88% of the variation in performance was due to differences between schools.

"That told us something powerful," said one school manager. "It's not just the students - it's what's happening inside the classrooms that really matters."

Teachers who used technology - like tablets and the internet - saw better student results. Homes where parents read stories or helped with homework, those children scored higher, too.

In other words: education is a team effort.

More Than Numbers

The story isn't just about test scores. It's about how the results are being used to improve and transform the education system.

The results from the learning assessment were used to develop individual report cards and personalized learning plans for students. Discussions are underway to replicate the assessments annually, to better track progress and tailor instruction, and in fact, in June 2025, the second national learning assessment was carried out.

Most importantly, there's growing awareness that language and assessment matters.

"It's clear that students perform better when they're taught in the language they use at home," a student care coordinator explained. "That means we need more than data. We need language policies that reflect our reality and support every learner."

Implications for Sint Maarten and Beyond

Sint Maarten may be small, but its efforts are gaining attention across the region. Since 2013, the World Bank has worked on 48 education projects across Latin America and the Caribbean - but Sint Maarten's early grade assessment model stands out as a blueprint for small states grappling with similar challenges.

What's the lesson?

• Customize assessments to match linguistic and cultural realities.

• Use data not for certifications or formal assessment, but to drive targeted support and equity.

• Encourage regional collaboration, sharing tools and best practices to lift up every student.

Looking Ahead

As the sun sets over Philipsburg, the laughter of schoolchildren echoes down the narrow streets. Behind the scenes, teachers, parents, and policymakers are working together - not just to teach, but to listen, adapt, and improve.

This isn't just a story about a test. It's a story about belief that every child, no matter the language they speak or the challenges they face, has the right to learn, to grow, and to thrive.

In Sint Maarten, data is now available to inform future reforms. In June 2025, a comparable learning exercise, building on this experience, was conducted as part of continued efforts to institutionalize learning outcomes within the country; results are pending.