July 24, 1999
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45% OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS PASS EXAMS
Just like last year, the preliminary results of the final exams for
secondary schools are below expectations. At the Lyceum I, preliminary
results indicate that 41% of the students have passed, 33% qualify for
re-examinations, and 26% have failed. At the Lyceum II, these figures are
52% passed, 20% re-examinations and 27% failed, at the VWO IV 37%, 33%
and 30%, respectively, and at the AMS 50.8% passed, 27.9% re-examinations,
and 33% failed, while 3.3% can take exams at a later date. The private
grammar school Vrije Atheneum has 46.9% passed, 26.5% re-examinations and
26.5% failed. Figures for the secondary school in Nickerie are not in yet.
In comparison, last year's figures were (before re-examinations): AMS 55%
passed, 26% failed and 19% re-examinations; Lyceum I 45% passed, 32% failed,
and 23% re-examinations; Lyceum II 51% passed, 25% failed and 24% re-examinations;
VWO IV 44% passed, 37% failed and 19% re-examinations. Better figures will
be available when the results of the re-examinations, which begin in the
second week of August, are in.
VSB HAS NO CONFIDENCE IN COALITION'S ACTIVITIES
The Trade and Industry Association Suriname (VSB) has no confidence
in the activities of the coalition, which has drafted an emergency social-economic
program. "We have faith in neither a Wijdenbosch-Radhakishun government
nor in a re-shuffled Cabinet headed by them" says Arthur Lo Fo Wong of
the VSB. According to him, neither the government nor the coalition are
engaged in activities that can be done on the basis of confidence. VSB
board member Ernie Isselt adds that the people currently in the government
have proven that they do not have the expertise to lead a country. According
to him, the question is whether the emergency program is of such a level
that it can get the country back on track again. The VSB has no confidence
in the group that currently forms the government. Lo Fo Sang believes that
the foundation of good governance has been shaken. Since good, just and
honest governance has been lacking, the VSB still supports an interim government.
The organization is consulting with labor organizations and politicians
who also support this idea and want it implemented. Street protests will
be considered, because "this shattered country cannot take any more," says
Lo Fo Wong.
BUSINESSES CONSIDER LEGAL STEPS AGAINST GOVERNMENT
If the government's debts to private enterprises are not paid soon,
these will take legal steps to seize government properties. The Trade and
Industry Association Suriname (VSB) is currently making an inventory of
this matter and, with the aid of a collection agency, ways of forcing the
government to pay will be considered. The VSB is very concerned about this
development, and says banks are among the government's creditors. The VSB
cannot say how much exactly the government owes the banks, but DWT
has learned that it is around f. 100 billion. When asked for comment, the
VSB's Arthur Lo Fo Wong says that due to the debts with the banks, the
possibilities to apply for credit have been constrained. Most of the government's
debts do not carry interest, so they lose their value with the exchange
rate increases. According to the VSB's Ernie Isselt, taking legal steps
against the government is necessary because the economic situation is such
that many institutions are on the verge op collapse. The government's inability
to pay it debts to businesses means that they, in turn, cannot pay their
debts. One result of this is that these businesses must request an extension
of payment, which is the first step toward bankruptcy.
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CLO BELIEVES ASSEMBLY MUST ALSO CONSIDER OTHER INTERPELLATIONS
Now that the Assembly has passed a motion demanding the return of the
Nickerie Pasture, the Central of Civil Servants' Organizations (CLO) has
made a request to Assembly Speaker Marijke Djwalapersad to also consider
other interpellations filed. The CLO reminds Djwalapersad of interpellations
concerning, among other things, the Sales Tax, the deal between the SPGC
and the power company EBS, the bridges across the Coppename and Suriname
Rivers, Central Bank President Henk Goedschalk, telecommunication liberalization,
the purchase of school furniture, statements made by the Dutch Minister
Herfkens and the income tax. According to the CLO, the Assembly had been
informed of the feelings of the people and civil servants in May. Then,
the Assembly had been asked to take away the mandate of the current government.
On June 1, the Assembly did indeed pass a motion to that effect, but this
wish has not been carried out yet.
SURINAM AIRWAYS DROPS MD-87 FOR 2 DC-9'S
In order to contain its high expenditures somewhat, Surinam Airways
has decided to terminate the leasing agreement for its MD-87 plane. Instead,
the company will acquire the use of two DC-9's. A delegation of Surinam
Airways has held negotiations on this matter with a US company recently.
Surinam Airways had to pay US$ 200,000 a month for the MD-87, which has
a capacity of about 130 passengers, while leasing the two DC-9's would
cost between US$ 110,000 and 115,000 a month, and this would mean savings
for Surinam Airways. DWT has learned from a very reliable source
that one of the DC-9's, which are smaller than the MD-87 but can carry
about the same number of passengers, will arrive in Suriname next month.
Another advantage is that this type of plane can carry more freight. The
planes are leased from a US company, but must be acquired in Europe. The
leasing of the planes has nothing to do with alleged losses on the regional
routes, which are currently carried out with the MD-87, but with saving
costs and solving the cargo problem.
On July 13, the National Army received its second new plane, a Casa
C212, which will be used with the Casa C-12-400 and six patrol boats received
earlier, to patrol the coast. These patrols are intended to bring down
crimes such as piracy and drug smuggling. The new planes and boats, which
were made in Spain, are mainly for preventive purposes. At the moment,
the Army is training with the new plane, while operations have already
been carried out with the first. The Air Force and Navy are working together
on an operations plan. Among other things, there will be cooperation with
the big shrimp companies such as the SAIL to combat piracy. Illegal fishing
and piracy cost the state about US$ 80 million a year. The purchase of
the boats and the planes is intended to let this lost income flow into
Suriname's economy.
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DWT EDITORIAL
Although secondary school teachers have done their utmost to compensate for the damage done by nearly two months of strikes, the percentage of students who have passed their final exams is not acceptable. The international norm used is 80%, but preliminary figures show that 26% have failed and 28% qualify for re-examinations. Last year, 48% passed, compared to 45% this year. Besides, the norms used to qualify for re-examinations have been relieved; last year a total of 42 was needed to qualify for re-examinations, while this year it is 38 points. There has been some consideration for below average students, or otherwise more would have failed. Last year, 57.7% of students passed after re-examinations, while 42.3% failed. In 1997, only 51% passed. The burden is heavy not only for the students who have failed, but for society as well. Last year, the former chairman of the Council of Secondary School Principals (now Education Minister), Karan Ramsundersingh, said that a thorough evaluation is needed to find the cause of these bad results. He pointed out that schools must accommodate nearly half of their students again, while there must be room for new students and those who pass lower grades. Yet no new classrooms have been built. There must be facilities to provide good education for everyone. It is often pointed out that education is on the decline. The whole community will suffer the consequences, as quality has declined at all levels. Parents and the state must make more sacrifices to provide an education to children. An evaluation is necessary indeed. Ramsundersing, who urged this while heading the Council of Secondary School Principals, must do the job now. Unfortunately, he has a conflict with important cadre at the Education Ministry, where unity is needed to deal with the immense problems. The future of our youth is not something to be trifled with.
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