Saba Comprehensive School

Saba Comprehensive School
Location
St. Johns

Saba

17°37′15″N 63°14′36″W / 17.620858°N 63.24339999999995°W / 17.620858; -63.24339999999995
Information
TypeSecondary school
EstablishedNovember 22, 1976
Websitelearningsaba.com

Saba Comprehensive School (SCS) is the sole secondary and vocational school in St. Johns, Saba. It was established in 1976 and since 1991 has taught in English. Since the 2020s it has taught classes in agriculture and maritime operations. Advanced work on a new school building began in 2023.

History

Saba Comprehensive School was established on November 22, 1976, with 100 Antillean guilders from the cofounders. Previously, Saba children wanting to take Middelbaar algemeen voortgezet onderwijs [nl] (MAVO) 3 and 4 classes had to go to St. Maarten; SCS began its MAVO 3 and 4 classes in 1988 and 1990, respectively. English became the medium of instruction in the 1990–1991 school year. The school was previously in The Bottom.

Since 2020 the school has run a Maritime Course Seaman Operations programme in which students learn how to operate a vessel. The school operates a ship simulator computer and, in January 2021, acquired the former Sea Rescue Foundation vessel Erika for practical instruction. In 2022 the school began to teach classes in agriculture. Since January 2023 students have received a free school breakfast funded by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment.

In December 2023 two teachers, who had been shared with the island's junior school, were laid off. The cuts were blamed on restrictions on the junior school budget.

New building

In 2023 construction began of a new school on an open space in front of the old building and gym. Archaeologists working in the site found artefacts from as early as the 17th century as well as the suspected early 20th century graves of an adult and newborn.

References

  1. ↑ "SCS students score 100-per-cent passing rate". The Daily Herald. 9 November 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
  2. ↑ "A Brief History ." Saba Comprehensive School. Retrieved on February 28, 2018.
  3. ↑ Department, Graphics (21 January 2021). "Sea Rescue Foundation donates 'Erika' to Comprehensive School". The Daily Herald. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
  4. ↑ "Students at SCS learn about agriculture". The Daily Herald. 20 May 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
  5. ↑ "Schools receive funds for free breakfast programme". The Daily Herald. 6 January 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
  6. ↑ "At least 11 school staff in Saba laid off just before Christmas". The Daily Herald. 11 December 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
  7. ↑ "Saba: Collaborative archaeological research at school construction site - Dossier Koninkrijksrelaties". Dossier Koninkrijksrelaties (in Netherlands Dutch). 27 February 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2026.