My name is Satin Soekhoe. Since February 1st, 1998, I am Head of Department of the Inspection Higher Secondary Education (VOS) of the Ministry of Education and Public development. Before that, I worked in the Department of Counseling of the Ministry. I have also been a professor, instructor and teacher. The position of Chief Inspector is nerve-racking and meaningful at the same time.
Through its projects, VVOB makes a welcome contribution to the educational sector in Surinam. In recent years, for instance, the vocational training at the Biotechnical Institute received support for the implementation of an internal quality care system. As a result, qualified young people now graduate from the Institute and are eagerly employed by the private and public sector.
In PROGRESS, the current programme, the component ‘Reform of the Teacher Training Colleges’ will create new opportunities for the educational sector. In 2009, I provided PROGRESS with specific data on the Teacher Training Colleges (TTCs). This data was used to prepare a policy document about reforming the TTCs. Besides sharing my knowledge and experience, I also contributed to this document by putting forward concrete proposals. The reform should lead to more efficient education in the schools, through better trained teachers. All of this is a very complex matter, and therefore a great challenge! I am convinced that it will succeed.
PROGRESS is also working to reinforce the inspection and other services. A few years ago, inspectors were trained in school screening. This was done in cooperation with the Flemish Inspection Department. I am one of the trained inspectors and I gratefully make use of the knowledge gained during my inspection visits in schools.
A bottleneck in the functioning of the educational inspection system in Surinam is under-staffing. This means that the work of the inspection is not always being done full justice. With a full occupation, optimal will and commitment of all participating stakeholders, and VVOB efforts, we can do much more for the Surinamese education sector. We remain enthusiastic!
