NON-STATE ACTORS IN EDUCATION
2.2 Non-state education provision
3.1 Regulations by distinct levels of education
- Early childhood care and education (Entry/Establishment ○ Financial operation ○ Quality of teaching and learning ○ Equitable access ○ Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability)
- Primary and secondary education (Entry/Establishment ○ Financial operation ○ Quality of teaching and learning ○ Equitable access ○ Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability)
- Tertiary education (Entry/Establishment ○ Financial operation ○ Quality of teaching and learning ○ Equitable access ○ Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability)
3.2 Supplementary private tutoring
1. Terminology
The 2019 amends to the Primary Education Act and the Supervision Act refers to a “private schools” as a legal entity under private law school which is not supported by the State and a “maintained school”, as a legal entity established under private law which is partly funded by the State and aim to provide education without profit.
2. Typology of provision
2.1 State education provision
State schools
In Suriname, most schools in primary education (four years from grade first to fourth) and secondary education (grades five to eleven) are state schools. Compulsory education covers ages four to 16.
Non-state managed, state schools
No information was found.
Non-state funded, state schools
No information was found.
2.2 Non-state education provision
Independent, non-state schools
Private schools are schools established, managed, and financed by private operators. These types of schools do not receive any subsidy or financial assistance from the State.
State-funded (government-aided), non-state schools
Subsidized non-state schools are non-governmental educational institutions which receive state support either financially, or by providing staff, teaching staff or staff payments to the institution. The legal basis for this can be found in the Resolution of 1939, whereby the foundation meets all the conditions to be eligible for a subsidy. The subsidy to the boards of special schools is per resolution (Resolution of 6 November 1939 no 3595) arranged. The payment of staff, teachers, messenger, cleaners and concierge takes place based on this resolution.
Contracted, non-state schools
No information was found.
2.3 Other types of schools
Homeschooling
According to the 2019 amends to the Primary Education Act and the Supervision Act, parents or tutors may choose for their children to receive home education. Parents or tutors opting for homeschooling their children must comply with the minimum requirements stated in the Education Law, which include submitting to the ministry information regarding personal data of parents or tutors and children, details of who will home teach, language of instruction, educational goals and teaching materials and resources. For children to obtain certificates of primary completion, students must write and pass the tests at the Examination Office.
Market contracted (Voucher schools)
No information was found.
Unregistered/Unrecognised schools
No information was found.
3. Governance and regulations
The Ministry of Education, Culture of Suriname oversees the design and implementation of the education policies for primary and secondary Education. Early Childhood Care and Education are under the responsibility of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing.
3.1 Regulations by distinct levels of education
According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) in 2019 there was a 42.3% enrolment in of children in Early Childhood Education Programmes in Private Institutions. Early Childhood Care and Education are provided by crèches, preschools and day care centers. ECCE main legislative frameworks are the 2014 Reception Institutions Act and the 2017 Decree on Quality Standards Reception institutions.
Registration and approval: The 2014 Reception Institutions Act dictates for the mandatory registration of all care and educational institutions, but no further information on the requirements was obtained.
Licence: No information was found.
Profit-making: No information was found.
Taxes and subsidies: No information was found.
Quality of teaching and learning
Curriculum and education standards: According to the 2017 Decree on Quality Standards Reception institutions, education at the pre-primary and junior level is supported by national introduced curricula compiled by the Curriculum Development Department of the Ministry of Education and People's Development.
Teaching profession: According to the 2017 Decree on Quality Standards Reception institutions, all ECCE staff including directors, staff and teachers must fulfil the required training requirements according to the employment position.
Fee-setting: No information was found.
Admission selection and processes: No information was found.
Policies for vulnerable groups: No information was found.
Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability
Reporting requirements: All childcare institutions and pre-primary educational institutions must gather information on each child who attends the institution, including general information on name, age, address, details regarding health, allergies, medication, and vaccination booklet, in addition to an individual record of all staff members, volunteers and interns (Decree on Quality Standards Reception institutions 2017).
Inspection: The Primary Education Inspectorate of the Ministry of Education and People's Development oversees monitoring the quality of education and compliance with standards within pre-primary education.
Child assessment: No information was found.
Sanctions: No information was found.
Registration and approval: According to the 2019 amends to the Primary Education Act and Supervision Act, a non-state educational institution may be established by an individual or a legal entity (association or foundation). Proprietors must apply for recognition from the Ministry and provide all required documentation such as the proof of registration from the public register, school regulations, and teaching staff information with the required qualifications. According to the 2015 Basic Education Act, school construction for primary education must follow international standards are made considering climatic factors.
Licence: No information was found.
Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH): According to the 2019 amends to the Primary Education Act and Supervision Act, the school management must report calamities, outbreaks of diseases or dangerous incidents to be reported to the inspection. Every school must be equipped with a first aid kit, smoke detectors, sufficient fire extinguishers, adequate fencing, running or clean (drinking) water and good sanitary facilities/facilities.
Profit-making: No information was found.
Taxes and subsidies: Non-state educational institutions organized as public pursue may apply for government funding.
Quality of teaching and learning
Curriculum and education standards: No information was found.
Textbooks and learning materials: No information was found.
Teaching profession: In Suriname, all teaching professionals must comply with the requirements established by the 2019 amends to the Primary Education Act and the Supervision Act which includes having an education certificate and a good conduct health certificate issued by the competent authority. All teachers must be registered with the National Teacher Register.
Corporal punishment: According to the 2019 amends to the Primary Education Act and the Supervision Act in the event of cases involving, among other things: child abuse, sexual harassment/abuse, bullying and discrimination of students, on behalf of the school, in principle the teacher, action must be taken against this and in special cases, this should be to be reported to the school management. When turning to authorities outside the school, the school management must inform the parents.
Other safety measures and COVID-19: No information was found.
Fee-setting: No information was found.
Admission selection and processes: No information was found.
Policies for vulnerable groups: No information was found.
Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability
School board: Maintained schools must organize a board as part of their governance structure. Private education is the direct responsibility of managing the legal person or of the natural person in which education is organized, which is also competent authority (2019 amends to the Primary Education Act and the Supervision Act)
Reporting requirements: No information was found.
School inspection: According to the 2019 amends to the Primary Education Act and the Supervision Act the inspectors have access to all primary schools. The school management, staff, and other bodies are always obliged to provide all requested information.
Student assessment: No information was found.
Diplomas and degrees: No information was found.
Sanctions: According to the 2019 amends to the Primary Education Act and the Supervision Act, the Ministry may revoke recognition if the institution acts contrary to the requirements established for granting recognition. Before revocation, an opportunity to meet the requirements is provided to the educational institution.
Tertiary education
In Suriname, there are currently seven public higher education institutions namely the Anton de Kom University of Suriname, the Polytechnic College, the Institute of Education of Teachers, COVAB, the AHKCO and the Youth Dental Care, LOBO.
Registration and approval: No information was found.
Licence: No information was found.
Profit-making: No information was found.
Taxes and subsidies: No information was found.
Quality of teaching and learning
Curriculum and education standards: No information was found.
Teaching profession: No information was found.
Fee-setting: No information was found.
Admission selection and processes: No information was found.
Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability
Board: No information was found.
Reporting requirements: No information was found.
Inspection: No information was found.
Assessment: No information was found.
Diplomas and degrees: No information was found.
Sanctions: No information was found.
3.2 Supplementary private tutoring
No information was found.
Financial operation and quality
No information was found.
No information was found.
