The Public Entity of Bonaire (OLB) has decided to establish an institute. What is its main purpose?
The Public Entity of Bonaire (OLB) has decided to establish a language institute to coordinate, support, and implement Bonaire’s language policy. The Language Institute has great social value, because language is an essential part of identity and a tool for acquiring knowledge, as well as for connecting people and ensuring equal access to services. Its primary goal is to protect, strengthen, and promote the use of Papiamento in education, government, and the community.
The institute will serve as a knowledge and coordination center for language policy on Bonaire. It will coordinate language development, support its implementation across various sectors of society, monitor and evaluate progress, and act as a bridge between the government and the community.
In the early years, the emphasis will be on strengthening Papiamento as a native language, a vehicle for identity, and a language for education and knowledge acquisition. Building on this foundation, the institute will gradually evolve into a multilingual authority that will also integrate Dutch, English, and Spanish.
According to the text, why does Papiamentu hold a special place within the Bonairean community?
Papiamento is the identity of the majority of Bonaire’s population and the means by which we pass on our heritage. Papiamento holds a special place because it is Bonaire’s native language, the mother tongue of Bonaire, and thus the inclusive language. This is because it is the mother tongue—or primary language spoken at home—of most Bonaireans and the first or second most important language for nearly the entire population of the island. Its role as a matrix language becomes even more important in a community that is growing more diverse every year.
What is the target set forth in the intergovernmental agreements for the year 2030?
The goal is that by 2030, no child will leave school without being literate in Papiamentu. This means that all children who complete elementary school must be able to read, write, speak, understand, and spell at the basic level for Bonaire. This corresponds to Level 1F of the Papiamentu Reference Framework. By the time they reach the lower grades of secondary school, students are expected to achieve a higher level (2F) in these same skills.
What key role will the Language Institute play in achieving the literacy goal?
To achieve this goal, the intergovernmental agreement sets out various objectives related to education. One of these objectives is to strengthen the competencies of Papiamentu teachers, assess their language proficiency, create opportunities for professional development, and establish a network of Papiamentu teachers.
Among other things, the Language Institute coordinates projects, develops teaching materials, provides advice on language policy, and promotes collaboration between schools, the government, and other organizations. The institute will bring together and support knowledge and expertise related to Papiamentu. This will help ensure that more children can master Papiamentu at the desired level.
The institute will carry out all these initiatives in collaboration with the government of the Kingdom. More details will follow once the institute has been established.
Who in the community is responsible for ensuring that all children can read and write Papiamentu well by 2030?
The entire community is responsible for this: the language is alive not only at school, but also at home, in the neighborhood, in social organizations, and in everyday life.
Parents, grandparents, teachers, school boards, social and cultural organizations, the media, influencers, local governments, and the government of the Kingdom all play an important role. Everyone who uses Papiamentu contributes to the realization of this ambition.
Without even realizing it, you have a major influence on the proper use of Papiamentu. This allows children to hear and read the language as much as possible, which directly contributes to their academic success. As a result, they ultimately graduate from school with a solid command of the various language skills.
How do parents, grandparents, and grandfathers contribute to language transmission at home?
Parents and grandparents contribute by speaking Papiamentu with children, reading with them, telling stories, and passing on traditions, customs, and knowledge from one generation to the next.
In this way, Papiamentu and our cultural heritage remain alive and are passed down from generation to generation.
What role do schools, teachers, civic organizations, the government, and the press play in promoting Papiamentu?
Schools and teachers are responsible for guiding children in the development of their reading, writing, speaking, listening, and spelling skills in Papiamentu. They must continue to improve their own command of Papiamentu and their ability to teach.
Civil society organizations can organize debates, creative writing workshops, workshops for parents on interactive reading with children, book presentations, lectures on the history of Papiamentu, and other events in Papiamentu.
The government (both at the local and Kingdom levels) is responsible for updating language policy, continuously evaluating the objectives set forth in the intergovernmental agreement, and providing resources for the implementation of projects. In addition, the Kingdom’s government is also tasked with developing methods and materials in accordance with the Papiamentu reference framework for schoolchildren.
The Language Institute will implement the language policy and continue to listen to feedback from the community, with specific attention to the needs of the Papiamentu-speaking community.
The media play an important role in promoting the proper use of Papiamentu and in maintaining consistent official spelling.
Therefore, all of the aforementioned sectors must promote the active and correct use of Papiamentu, encourage reading and writing, and use the language in communication, education, and social activities.
Why is it important to use the official spelling of Papiamentu consistently?
Consistent use of the official spelling ensures clear and uniform communication. It helps with teaching, with the production of teaching materials, and with the everyday use of the language.
If everyone writes according to the same rules, Papiamentu will become stronger, clearer, and easier to learn.
What is the contribution of a quality education in Papiamentu to children and the Bonairean community?
A quality education in Papiamentu helps preserve the language, promotes better language development, leads to better academic performance, and provides a stronger foundation for learning other languages. Furthermore, it strengthens our identity and our knowledge of our cultural heritage. This benefits not only the child but also the entire Bonairean community.
Which organizations and agencies are working together to strengthen Papiamentu?
To achieve these goals, various organizations and agencies contribute based on their own responsibilities and expertise. Among them are the Public Entity of Bonaire (OLB), schools, cultural foundations, civil society organizations, ministries of the Kingdom’s government, and the future Language Institute.
For example: Fundashon Akademia Papiamentu, Fundashon Lesa ta dushi, Biblioteka Públiko Boneiru, and FuHiKuBo.
Although there is currently no formal collaborative structure among all partners, they are working toward the same goal in various ways: strengthening, developing, and preserving the Papiamentu language. In the future, the Language Institute will play a key role in connecting the various initiatives, fostering collaboration, and pooling efforts in a more structured and sustainable manner.
