went on a lightning strike and reportedly stayed home. The BLTO which had instructed its members to stay home sent a letter to President Chandrikapersad Santokhi, asking for a meeting to tell them when they will finally receive payment for working overtime. If the president fails to respond, the teachers will continue the strike.

Jenifer Ballo, deputy chairperson of the BLTO, explained that the teachers were promised that they would receive payment at the end of March but only a few teachers have actually received the money. She disapproved of the fact that only a few teachers were selected to receive this payment. The union made it clear to the head of state that all of the teachers are supposed to receive payment for working overtime in October, November and December 2024. It fears that the Santokhi administration is choosing to implement a divide and conquer policy. “We urgently ask you to explain why your minister of Education, Science and Culture,” said the union. The BLTO also demanded that the payments be made within the next couple of days. The union officials deem it regrettable that the students are the ones paying the price of the delay in payments but made it clear that it feels compelled to stand up for its members.

There was also a lightning strike at the Algemene Middelbare School (AMS). The teachers who are stationed at this high school did not work because for the past six months they haven't received payment for working overtime. Some of the teachers chose to keep on teaching in the classes of the students who will have to take the state exams to graduate at the end of this school year. The Association of Teachers (BvL) reportedly supports this strike. The teachers at the AMS will work from 7 a.m. until 10 a.m. until further notice but only in the exam classes.

A female student from AMS told Times of Suriname that she has to take two buses to reach school and two buses to get back home. She deemed it awful that she had to spend so much money on bus fare just to be told that she had to go back home. “I understand that teachers are entitled to payment but we are the ones paying the price. I hope that a solution is found soon,” said the student.