About EC2

A new chapter in education-care on Saba

On Saba, the establishment of EC2 in 2011 marked an important step in strengthening the support for children and youth with learning, behavioral or developmental needs. The island’s schools lacked a full-fledged special-education institution; instead EC2 was created as a central expertise center that would function according to Dutch guidelines and provide care and assistance to learners, teachers and parents across age groups from early years into secondary and further stages.

Why it was started

There were several intertwined reasons for founding EC2:

  • With the change in status on 10 October 2010 (the Caribbean Netherlands becoming special municipalities of the Netherlands), the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science adopted responsibility for education on Saba under its system — this included ensuring inclusive education and appropriate support for all learners.
  • The small‐scale context of Saba meant that rather than establishing separate specialised schools, a support center made more sense. EC2 could provide targeted help (diagnostics, coaching, support, small-group or one-to-one work) while children remained registered at their usual school and integrated as much as possible.
  • Practically, this meant strengthening the “onderwijszorg” (education-care) framework: pupils who risked falling behind for learning or behavioral reasons would not simply be excluded, but supported within a structured system. The Dutch subsidy scheme for the Expertise Center Education Care (EC2) covers this on the BES-islands (Bonaire, Saba, Sint Eustatius).
  • Locally, key figures such as Henriëtte van Heijnsbergen (often called “Tr Jet”) played a driving role: she had been working in remedial teaching and school innovation on Saba for many years, and she spearheaded the launch of EC2, building its team and shaping its mission.

Date and milestone

EC2 was formally established in 2011 on Saba, with Tr. Jet van Heijnsbergen as its only employee. In August 2021 the center celebrated its 10-year anniversary. By that time, EC2 offered the services of ten experts, including several Personal Education Assistants.

Role of the Dutch Ministry of Education

The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) has several roles in this context:

  • It placed the education system of the Caribbean Netherlands under Dutch educational governance from January 1st 2011, meaning that Saba’s schools and support services (including EC2) are integrated into the national framework.
  • The ministry provides subsidy funding for the EC2 arrangements via the service that executes this, Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs, which includes fixed lumpsum and pupil-based grants, with additional allocation for smaller islands such as Saba.
  • It supervises, through the inspectorate, the quality of the EC2 and its support programs. For example, the Inspectie van het Onderwijs has published quality reports on EC2 Saba.
  • It provides policy frameworks (for inclusive education, multilingualism, staff training, digital infrastructure) of which EC2 is part for Saba, in collaboration with local authorities and schools.

The logo

The logo of EC2 Saba is a kite, which symbolizes three important qualities related to the center’s approach to education and student support:

  • Playfulness: The team starts from the student’s perspective, incorporating play, creativity and action into their sessions.
  • Movement: EC2 is flexible and adapts to the individual talents and needs of each child.
  • Ability to rise to great heights: A kite can soar to unexpected heights when steered properly, reflecting how EC2 helps students succeed by considering their home situation and other external factors.