PARAMARIBO – Pupils from the 8th grade will no longer receive a certificate. The principals of the nation’s primary schools told Times of Suriname, that these pupils will receive an official document that will state that they have successfully passed the first until the eighth grade, and that they have passed to the ninth grade. Parents, pupils, teachers and principals are puzzled by the decision to scrap the certificate.

A principal explained that the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture no longer discusses the latest developments with the principals of the nation’s schools, but simply announced the changes that must be implemented. The principals pointed out that they can’t answer all of the questions of the parents, because they do not receive information regarding the logic behind all of the decisions that are made. Several principals and teachers complained that the Ministry of Education fails to communicate adequately with parents, which is why parents are demanding answers.

A principal from a Mulo School pointed out that she was shocked to hear that the minister of Education, Henry Ori, has announced that the fourth grade of the Mulo would no longer exist, as it will be replaced by the 12th grade. She explained that if there is no clear plan for this drastic change, this change could add to the chaos caused by the free flow policy. The principal made it clear that she hopes that the ministry will consult all of the parties involved, instead of making one-sided decisions…[+]