It was interesting to learn (see Monday newspaper) of the most popular fields among 80 study financing recipients. There were 16 approved requests for Business Administration/Management, eight for Finance/Finance and Control, seven for Biology/Biological Science (Medicine), six for Information and Communication Technology plus four each for Accounting, Health Care Management, Psychology/Psychologist, Radiologic Technology and programmes classified as non-priority studies.
The latter is an intriguing observation, because last October government published its 2026 Study Financing Priority List, tied to the labour market and national development. It concerns numerous subjects under no less than 13 main categories.
Seeing the island’s tourism economy these logically include Aviation and Aeronautics, Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary, Marine and Maritime Studies as well as Vocational and Skilled Trades.
When looking at this year’s results, only one student selected Hospitality Management. It begs a repeat of the question asked a decade ago by then Minister Richards Gibson Sr., namely where are the local resort managers?
However, consider that several different fields also have importance for the dominant hospitality industry, like Culinary Arts and Media and Entertainment Management/Creative Business, along with many others. Ultimately the entire community makes the destination.
And while setting priorities based on a country’s needs is understandable, not narrowing down the options too much remains desirable. After all, St. Maarten’s “Best and Brightest” should get the chance to reach their full potential, in principle regardless of where and what they plan to study.
Within reasonable boundaries, it should be mostly their choice.
