WILLEMSTAD – The Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports (ESKD), Sithree van Heydoorn, was invited last Wednesday to the Maria Immaculata Lyceum (MIL) during the final phase of research presentations by students completing their VWO and HAVO studies. The minister addressed the students and their parents, wishing them success in their presentations and exam preparations. Later, he participated as a special guest in the informatics section, guided by subject coordinator Mr. S. Losiabaar.
The first group presented a project titled “Te laat doet geen baat” (“Being Late Brings No Benefit”). The students developed a digital application, CHRONO-SCAN AI, to analyze the issue of overcrowding at school entrances due to students arriving late. Based on their research findings, they designed a digital and more efficient registration system for tracking late arrivals. Jesus Davis Sanabria Subero and Angelina Emerenciana, both HAVO-5 students, created the application using artificial intelligence tools and digital methodologies.
The second group presented a project titled “DEERSPOTTER3000”, in collaboration with various organizations. Their research focused on recognizing and registering deer images captured within Christoffel Park. They analyzed the camera system set up by Carmabi, which captures all moving objects in the park, including trees and other animals. To address this challenge, the students used artificial intelligence, digital programs such as GUI and the YOLOv8 model, and developed a digital application capable of recognizing and registering deer images while filtering out irrelevant ones. They also built a website to store the collected images. This group consisted of four VWO-6 students: Khion Dandaré, Jayden Esser, Antisar Idriss, and Angel Kalmez.
Minister Van Heydoorn noted that this initiative aligns with his recent visit to Malta, where he explored scientific education advancements. He emphasized that in other countries, early scientific development is encouraged, preparing students with 21st-century learning methods. Activities like these inspire students to pursue education passionately and continue developing skills for the modern era.
