they hope that the new minister will take the necessary steps aimed at stopping the decline of the educati-on sector. “For years we have detected a drastic decline in basic skills such as reading, writing and math,” said a teacher who has been a teacher at a primary school for the past 20 years. “We urgently need a more effective and efficient policy, better tools and more support in the classroom.” Several evaluations and international comparisons indicate that the education sector in Suriname requires improvement in multiple areas. Teachers explain that new books have been introduced but that they were not trained on how to use these books. They also com-plained about the fact that students are being crammed into each classroom. According to the teachers, there is also a lack of after-school programs and tutoring programs. The educators hope that the new minister will talk with the education field so that joint solutions can be found for the problems. They also do not want the minister to push through unilateral decisions but that he will opt to consult the unions first.

“We have been in the classrooms for many years and now what works for us wand our child-ren. We want to switch back to the system where the pupils had to take the state exams in the 8th grade to determine the direction of their education,” said the teachers who do not approved of the current system where pupils have to take the state exams in the 10th graders.

The teachers not only expect the new minister to listen to them but to also have the courage to get things done. “The motivation of many colleagues is under pressure. But we still hope that the new minister will realize what is at stake and that it is vital to make investments in the education system,” said a teacher.