PARAMARIBO - The campus that is located in the Para District and that was opened in 2023 to accommodate hundreds of students who had to travel all to way to Paramaribo...

to attend classes is not being used to its full capacity. Sections of the premises look abandoned and neglected and this raises many questions about the effectiveness of the investments that were made via a loan. The facility which is located in the Jules Klaasweg near the Bouterse Highway was meant to bring education closer to the homes of the students from the Para District and to give regional development a boost but things are not going as planned as the campus is in fact not fully operational. Education, Science and Culture Minister Dirk Currie acknowlegded that the campus is not running at its full capacity. “It is being used but not entirely,” said Minister Currie. The Ministry of Education also wanted to add an Institute for Natural Resources and Engineering Studies (Natin). Minister Currie pointed out that “this is yet another example of money that was wasted.” He also pointed out that he wants clear answers regarding the effectiveness of each project before giving the green light. “We must know exactly which students will go there and how the management team will be structured,” said Minister Currie who also mentioned that there is another facility at Apoera that is hardly being used and which has been overgrown with weeds. Education officials are holding talks with the district officials and the local community to find ways to make sure that the facility at Apoera becomes fully operational. One of the solutions is to collaborate with the local business community. “We must prevent no longer waste money on building things that will not be used.”