Regulator confirms Curaçao's secondary school textbook market is broken

The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has concluded, following an investigation, that the market for teaching materials in secondary education is not functioning properly. Schools have long raised concerns about the system, particularly because they are required to purchase specific textbooks, leaving them with little to no competitive choice. The findings validate complaints from educators who have argued that the current structure forces schools into costly, inflexible purchasing arrangements. The lack of competition in the textbook market can drive up costs for schools and, by extension, for students and families. The ACM's official conclusion adds regulatory weight to what educators have been saying for years and may now prompt policy action or market reform. The investigation highlights a structural problem in the educational supply chain that affects students across secondary schools in the region.