Primary education (po) schools in the Caribbean Netherlands receive their funding on a calendar-year basis. 

The funding may consist of:

• basic funding
• extra funding
• additional funding

1 total amount

Schools receive a total amount to fund education. This total amount is also referred to as the lump sum. 

This amount consists of:

• basic funding
• extra funding

The total amount is not divided into separate amounts for staff and operation and maintenance. The board decides how to spend this funding. 

Reference count date

To calculate funding, DUO uses the number of pupils who were enrolled and attended classes on 1 February or 1 October in the previous calendar year. 

Therefore, schools count the number of pupils on 2 separate occasions during the year:

• The February 1st count of the current calendar year is the basis for funding in the following calendar year. 
• The October 1st count of the current calendar year is the basis for the subsidy to the EOZs in the following calendar year. 

Receive automatically or on application

Schools receive this funding automatically:

• basic funding
• extra funding 
• additional funding in the event of any special developments

The board must apply for this funding itself:

• additional funding in special circumstances 

Deciding and issuing funding

DUO determines the initial funding before the funding year begins, unless the Minister decides that a funding subject is to be determined at a different time.

The board receives the final administrative decision after the certified (authenticated) OGT, the validated reference count form and the assurance report have been submitted. The audit results and developments in wages and prices may lead to changes that affect the final decision. This can change the funding amount. 

The board receives an Overview of Financial Decisions (OFB) for both the initial and the final decision. You can view the OFB on Funding details page.

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