Ministry of Education and IPA Host Successful 'Multilingual Education Training Week' with Prof. Dr. Joana Duarte
ORANJESTAD — As part of the implementation of Comprehensive Language Management and the multilingual education framework, the Ministry of Education, in close collaboration with the Instituto Pedagogico Arubano (IPA) and Prof. Dr. Joana Duarte from the University of Groningen, organized the 'Multilingual Education Training Week' during the week of October 19, 2026.
This training week marks the first phase of a multi-year professional development initiative aimed at enhancing and strengthening educational quality within Aruba's multilingual context. The primary objective is to expand teachers' knowledge and practical skills in multilingual instructional strategies, translanguaging, and the strategic use of students' native languages in the learning process.
Program and Activities
The training week kicked off on Monday, October 19, at the Renaissance Convention Center with the mini-conference 'Strategies for Multilingual Education.' This session brought together school leaders, teachers, school boards, and educational professionals working in early childhood and primary education.
From Tuesday, October 20, through Thursday, October 22, intensive professional development workshops were held for kindergarten through second-grade teachers (groep 1, 2, and 3) at the IPA campus and Colegio EPI. The sessions focused on three interactive workshops:
- Every Language is a Celebration! — Focused on the flexible and natural use of Papiamento, Dutch, Spanish, and English (translanguaging). Through thematic games and activities, teachers explored how to meaningfully expand students' vocabulary.
- Reading, Counting, and Learning in More Than One Language — Participants experienced how leveraging students' native languages enhances comprehension in math and reading lessons, and how multilingual texts can be effectively integrated into the classroom.
- Students Taking the Multilingual Lead — Through role-playing and interactive speaking assignments, teachers explored methods to boost students' confidence when speaking a foreign language, translating these strategies directly into classroom practice.
Acknowledgements and Next Steps
The Ministry of Education expresses its sincere gratitude to the Instituto Pedagogico Arubano (IPA), the organizing committee, and all participating educational professionals for their dedication and commitment to making this training week a success. The practical tools and insights gained during this week provide a strong foundation for building excellent multilingual education in Aruba.
For more information on upcoming professional development opportunities, please visit www.learningcitiesaruba.org.