For some years now, educational reform has been an important, if not the most important, theme in Surinamese education. In 2009 this was also the case. Through the Programme more Effective Schools Surinam (PROGRESS), VVOB wants to contribute to this reform process. Within PROGRESS, the Ministry of Education and Community Development (MINOV), the Ministry of Planning and Development Cooperation (PLOS) and VVOB combine forces.
From a view on the general education process, PROGRESS wants to contribute substantially to the educational reforms. The objectives of the programme have four spearheads: (1) Strengthening the departments of the Ministry; (2) strengthening the teacher training institutes; (3) guaranteeing sustainable professionalisation of teachers, lecturers and civil servants; and (4) continuing the development of an education information system that serves to support the policy makers.
Strengthening MINOV departments
In May 2009, we, together with our partners, present the book ‘Ik geloof in jou!’ (I believe in you!) to the Surinamese society. This book is the result of a successful cooperation between UNICEF, MINOV and VVOB. It presents an inspiring image of what Surinamese education might look like in the future. This gives us an ideal purpose of the educational reforms we are working on. Call it a vision book, if you will. A book that, by the way, also serves as a source of inspiration and guideline for the entire programme.
The book is distributed to everyone working in the Surinamese education sector: teachers, employees of MINOV and employees of educational NGOs. The launch of the book goes hand in hand with an introductory workshop with ideas on how it can be used. The workshop is directed at the entire teaching staff of MINOV. At the same time, this is the first form of reform and professionalisation within the education sector.
Furthermore, the departments of Counseling, Inspection, and Research and Planning of MINOV are provided with basic ICT facilities (computers, printer, laptop, copy machine). Based on the book, plans are being drafted that have to lead to a vision and mission for these departments. In cooperation with the Inter-American Development Bank, that implements the ‘Basic Education Improvement Project’ to introduce 11 years of basic education, we furnish a training room.
Reform of the training for teachers of basic education
Within this component there were a lot of brainstorming activities in 2009. The directors of the teacher training institutes meet every three weeks. They work out a realistic scenario for reforming the teacher training. In 2010, they will carefully put the first steps in this growth process. This takes place in cooperation with two Flemish Colleges (the University College Arteveldehogeschool Ghent and the Limburg Catholic University College). They help us realise activities on specific themes, such as internal quality control, the drafting of a curriculum and formative testing to give students feedback to adjust their study attitude.
Establishing an institute for in-service training and professionalisation
The ‘knowledge’ within the education sector is quite outdated. Establishing an in-service training institute with the aim to increase the quality of education and keeping it on high standards, offers a possible solution. Through trainings and school coaching activities, we work on the professional development of teachers, schools and the staff of MINOV.
In 2009, the in-service training for teachers starts with the development of two training packages (‘Powerful educational environment’ and ‘Activating didactics’) in cooperation with ‘PCOS’, a Surinamese educational NGO. These are part of the growth model to establish a permanent institute for in-service training. Together with the University College Arteveldehogeschool we are working out professional profiles. They constitute a guideline to set up the courses of the in-service training. Through the ‘Ik geloof in jou!’- trainings, we gain experience with local trainers and with organising workshops for the entire educational field in the country.
From an education information system to an education management system
In continuation of a previous VVOB project, this component is already well-integrated in the department of Research and Planning of MINOV. In the past years the department took significant steps in collecting and processing the basic data of pupils, teachers and schools in primary education.
This resulted in the current ‘Education Information System’, that yet contains insufficient data to effectively and efficiently support educational planning, monitoring and evaluation. It is necessary to gradually expand and upgrade the system; thus over time, expand to a fully fledged ‘Education Management Information System’. Due to this, in 2009, the collection of data (e.g. number of students, repeaters, drop-outs, teachers, man-woman ratios) is expanded to all schools from kindergarten to pre-university education. Because the department wants to grow, we organise a thorough review of the current system. This way we can specify what a new system should include and how this should take place. The review provides a basis for a realistic planning for the upcoming years, which is supported by the department of Research and Planning and the policy of MINOV.
Programme Coordination Unit (PCU)
An important step for PROGRESS is the establishment of the PCU in July 2009. The PCU sees to it that the specific programme objectives are realised and constitutes an official link between VVOB and the programme partners, MINOV and PLOS. The PCU monitors the various components of the programme and tackles the bottlenecks.
Challenges in 2010
The national elections will take place in May 2010. As from the beginning of 2010, important decisions will be postponed until after the elections. The results of the election may strongly influence the policy and priorities in the second half of the year. When continuing PROGRESS, this will have to be taken into account.
PROGRESS is not the only educational reform programme. Hence it is necessary to better present PROGRESS in society and towards the employees of MINOV, the schools and NGOs.
2010 will be the year in which VVOB will contribute to the further growth and development of Surinamese education.
