PARAMARIBO – Education, Science and Culture Minister Henry Ori recently made it clear that he is not in favor of enrolling 3-year-olds in kindergarten. “This is a sensitive issue,” said Minister Ori who added that a commission that had been tasked with screening the 3-year-olds eventually concluded that the experiment was not a success which is why the commission advised against it.

According to the minister, parents in Suriname insist that their children are up to the task. “Last year we did not allow the enrollment of 3-year-olds. This year we allowed it because politicians decided to get involved. I was summoned several times and I was asked why I am so stubborn and do not want to cooperate which is why we allowed these children to be screened before being enrolled,” said the minister. The minister emphasized that there is no central commission this time and that things are done differently this time as the government does not cover the costs anymore. Parents have to pay for the psychological test. The children are then enrolled based on the contents of the psychological report. The ministry also added another requirement namely that these children must attend toddler school before they can be enrolled in kindergarten. Officials explained that dozens of parents filled in a wrong date of birth in order to get their 3-year-olds enrolled. Most of the parents who want to send their 3-year-olds to kindergarten failed to send them to a toddler school first…[+]