In the context of quality improvement and the path to accreditation, the Academy of Higher Art and Culture Education (AHKCO) organized a workshop on the ‘role of the teacher in the process of accreditation ’. The workshop held on Saturday April 9, 2022 in the Lalla Rookh building emphasized the individual responsibility that lies with each stakeholder and that it is a joint effort.
The director of the AHKCO gives her speech. In addition to her, the director of vocational education, Gracia Valies-Ormskirk, and the trainers Saskia Chotoe and Vandana Ramlal.
This idea was quoted in their speeches by both the director of Vocational Education, Gracia Valies-Ormskirk and the director of the AHKCO, Jane Kolf-Bergraaf. During the workshop, those present were asked to visualize the development process of the accreditation, where you had to look at where you as an individual per phase.
Through the interactive and reflective design of the workshop, the teachers are reminded of their important role within the whole.
The Center for Training in Suriname (Cenasu) started training teachers from the Sipaliwini district in Development-oriented Education (OGO) on Wednesday 16 March 2022. The trainers were supposed to visit the first group of schools on the Upper Suriname River on Monday 14 and Tuesday 15 March 2022, but because of the high water level and the evacuation of teachers from a number of schools, the trainers have not traveled. The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture (MinOWC) has made a virtue of necessity.
The teachers are already following the first module of OGO. This form of education works at the pace of the children. Each person has the potential to develop themselves and this can lead to processes of self-learning.
About 220 teachers will be trained in OGO. Meanwhile, the teachers of OS Manlobi, Johannes Arabie New Aurora, OS Ampoematapoe, OS Goejaba 1, OS Goninikrikimofo, OS Bofokoele and OS Godo have been trained.
There are still school teams that are currently being scheduled. In addition to the OGO training sessions, other sessions are also planned for these teacher teams. For example, class training sessions are planned for next week.
In the context of the improvement and renewal of Primary Vocational Education (LBO), the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture (minOWC) officially opened four LBO Multi-Care practice rooms on Thursday 7 April 2022. In connection with the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) project, which the minOWC currently carries out, 39 practice rooms are equipped with machines in different districts in twelve schools.
The school leader of LBO Meerzorg mr. Marvin Sawirjo informed those present that with the commissioning of the premises and the possession of the necessary machines and equipment, he can proudly say that vocational education in Commewijne has been updated. The school leader calls on every individual who will use the machines to do so economically and responsibly. He calls on young people interested in vocational education to take advantage of this golden opportunity. He is convinced that vocational education will make an adequate contribution to the various production sectors in the Commewijne district.
The director of Vocational Education of the minOWC, mrs. Gracia Valies-Ormskirk, said it would do her good to note that there is an advance in vocational education. The bridge that is built between theory and practice becomes more visible. The director advises teachers and students to make learning their passion and to draw knowledge of the resources offered, so that the competences will be visible in the practice of their profession.
An essential part of this project is the maintenance of these facilities, said state advisor Gregory Russia. The consultant advocates good maintenance programs for the machines, so that these facilities are available to the school for a long time.
Minister Marie Levens indicated to those present that vocational education is on the department's agenda because it is the basis of the country's development. The ministry has ensured that the various vocational training courses meet the standards in the region. The minister further said that the machines have a multifunctional purpose. They will be shared between the LBO schools, the Natin and other technical HBO courses.
President Chandrikapersad Santokhi said in his speech that the market needs to be well prepared in view of the oil and gas industry. This is why the government strives for market-oriented education. Individuals with these professions are the backbone of society, the president said. The head of state believes that more of these schools should be built.
This project is funded by the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).
In the past two months, teachers of grade 9 in the districts of Nickerie and Sipaliwini have focused on a change from traditional teaching to a more child-oriented way of education: development-oriented learning or OGO. This renewed approach is more in line with the vision of the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture (minOWC) and is in line with the experience and development of young people in grade 9.
Daniela Rosario, coordinator of educational innovation, says that development-oriented education is not the ‘passing on ’ of the subject matter, but rather the development of knowledge and skills that match the interest and talents of students. In the follow-up modules, these teachers will further delve into learning activities and test forms that students prepare in their talent and interest development for a successful transition to further education.
In the coming months, the other teachers from the other districts will be trained by the ministry's working group.
The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture (minOWC) is strengthening vocational education as part of the renewal of education. The minOWC entered into a partnership with the Dutch organization CINOP, Center for Innovation of Education and Training. They offer training to the lecturers at the Vocational Education (LOBO) Teacher Training in providing distance learning.
Director Gracia Valies-Ormskirk of Vocational Education was present before the formal start of the training. Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, she believes that there is a need for a change in the way of teaching. “This situation has made us creative. We are now making more use of online meetings, which prove to be time-saving and effective. ” The students will produce competences to effectively carry out distance learning.
The training is tailor-made for the Surinamese situation and lasts three days. Three modules are then provided, namely Online Education (in relation to COVID-19), Strengthening cooperation with the private sector and Entrepreneurship.
The training module is part of a project that was approved on March 26, 2021. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was started on April 11, 2022. The project duration is one year. In addition to the training module in distance learning, two modules will also be provided to strengthen the relationship between TVET schools and the private sector and entrepreneurship training. The CINOP delegation, consisting of three people, will offer the training courses physically and online to the selected teachers of the LOBO.
CINOP is a Dutch consultancy that focuses in particular on capacity building with a strong focus on improving vocational education worldwide. The total grant of €74,020 for this project has been made available by the Nuffic organization. Nuffic is a non-profit organization for internationalization in education and manages programs for the ministries of Education and Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands.
The director of the AHKCO gives her speech. In addition to her, the director of vocational education, Gracia Valies-Ormskirk, and the trainers Saskia Chotoe and Vandana Ramlal.
This idea was quoted in their speeches by both the director of Vocational Education, Gracia Valies-Ormskirk and the director of the AHKCO, Jane Kolf-Bergraaf. During the workshop, those present were asked to visualize the development process of the accreditation, where you had to look at where you as an individual per phase.
Through the interactive and reflective design of the workshop, the teachers are reminded of their important role within the whole.
