Michelle Every Earns Bachelor's Degree in Organization, Governance and Management

Vicky Arens, Director of Cas di Cultura in Aruba, traveled to the Netherlands to present at a symposium titled 'REPAIR: Learning Cultural Justice from the ABC Islands.' Her presentation focused on the work of Cas di Cultura as it relates to Aruba's colonial heritage and outlined a vision for the future. The symposium brought together voices from Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao to address themes of cultural justice and historical reckoning with the colonial past. The event represents part of a broader regional and international conversation about how former Dutch Caribbean colonies process and respond to their colonial histories. Arens' participation signals Aruba's active engagement in shaping how its cultural institutions contribute to that dialogue. The work presented highlights Cas di Cultura's role not only as a cultural hub but as a platform for addressing deeper historical and social questions.

Aruba's Minister of Education, Endy Croes, convened meetings between the Ministry of Education, the Department of Education Aruba (DEA), and MAVO secondary schools to evaluate and strengthen the current educational policy. The gatherings are focused on reviewing and improving the curriculum within secondary education on the island. Intensive consultation sessions scheduled for September and October will be used to concretize the revised policy and curriculum framework. The initiative falls under the broader Learning Cities Aruba program, which aims to develop Aruba as a city of continuous learning and education improvement. The collaboration signals a structured, multi-stakeholder approach to reforming secondary education at the MAVO level. The outcome of these consultations is expected to shape the direction of secondary schooling policy in Aruba going forward. This effort reflects the government's commitment to strengthening educational standards and aligning the curriculum with modern learning goals.

Aruba has reopened enrollment for its military training program, giving young residents another opportunity to sign up. The new recruitment campaign is being led by Caribbean Defense (Defensa region Caribe), the Dutch military command responsible for the region. The program targets young people in Aruba who are interested in gaining military training and experience. This initiative reflects ongoing efforts by the Dutch Caribbean defense structure to engage and develop local youth through structured military education. The reopening suggests the program has previously run successful enrollment cycles and continues to draw interest from the local population. Participation in such programs can offer young Arubans career pathways, discipline, and skills aligned with regional security and defense needs.