Schools in Suriname’s interior will reopen on Monday, one month after the official start following the summer vacation. The delay occurred because teachers were still in Paramaribo and could not reach their workplaces in the interior due to a strike by the Suriname Organization of Bus and Boat Owners (OBS).
The first group of teachers left early Friday morning at five o’clock for their assigned locations. OBS chairman Antonius Pokie told Suriname Herald that all necessary supplies for the teachers have been placed in containers to prevent further delays.
After the summer break, teachers were unable to reach their posts in the interior due to outstanding payments to OBS members. These overdue payments led bus and boat operators to suspend their services. The OBS, responsible for transporting teachers to and from Paramaribo during school vacations, had waited nearly a year for payment from the Ministry of Education, Science, and Culture (minOWC). This issue also affects teacher relocation transportation between villages.
The second group of teachers departed yesterday, followed by the third group today. The journey includes reaching remote villages upstream along rivers, where water levels are currently very low. Nevertheless, OBS’s experienced boat operators are ready to use their expertise to transport the teachers safely.
“We’ve received payments for the Christmas and Easter vacations, but not yet fully for the summer. We’re currently working to finalize this. Only then can we proceed with the summer vacation payments,” added Pokie.
