The 42 students who are scheduled to leave for the Netherlands on Friday to further their education will receive their final briefing today, Wednesday. It's always a time of mixed emotions, because it involves sending off the island's "best and brightest" each year.

On the other hand, doing so offers them the opportunity to reach their maximum potential, which they in many cases might not be able to do should they choose to stay, as the studies they pursue often are not available locally, at least not at the desired level. The hope is, of course, that their absence will be only temporary and that they will return after completing their higher education to help build up their island, soon to be Country St. Maarten.

Considering how big a step it is for both the youngsters and their families, it was disconcerting to read in Monday's paper that parents whose requests for study financing on behalf of their children were denied in first instance had not been informed up to then of the result of their appeals. That is obviously not correct, with only a matter of days before the students involved would have to board a plane should their appeals be honoured.

After all, sending students to Holland with its cold climate requires the necessary preparations also in terms of outfits and the like, which costs money. One can hardly expect parents to make those investments if they are not sure their children are going in the first place.

In addition, should the parents whose appeals are denied decide to pay themselves for their sons or daughters to go to study in the Netherlands, they would have very little time left to make the necessary arrangements. Likewise, in cases where the appeals are honoured, parents and students would find themselves under tremendous time pressure and in a stress situation that is certainly not helpful under already emotional circumstances.

Efforts to find out whether the parents involved had received word on their appeals meanwhile proved fruitless up to yesterday (Tuesday) evening. With the last information session for the departing students this (Wednesday) afternoon, any parents still in doubt would do well to show up and demand clarity.