TeachersandstudentsfromARLeeuwinschoolrallyinfrontEBGSheadquarters

Teachers and students from the A.R. Leeuwinschool on Friday rallied in front of the headquarters of the Stichting Onderwijs der EBGS to protest against the decision to reassign teachers who had voiced their criticism. Teachers from the Saramacca District also traveled all the way to Paramaribo to support the rally. The protestors demanded that the decision to transfer teachers must be ‘cancelled.’ “The culture of fear must end,” said the chairman of the Alliance of Teachers in Suriname (ALS), Wilgo Valies. The students initially stood at the entrance of the building but eventually assembled on the balcony in an effort to get Mildred Demon, director at the foundation, out of her office. The protestors also knocked on the walls of the building which reportedly annoyed management at the EBGS because the door was slammed shut and the police was notified and asked to evict the protestors from the balcony. Management was reluctant to meet with the union chairman. Valies pointed out that “this is a clear sign of how management thinks about teachers and students.” “Management does not want to hold talks and also does not want to listen to the students. I find that regrettable,” said Valies who added that the reasons given for transferring the teachers are unfounded. “The fight will go on. If no solution is presented, we will also rally on Monday.” The foundation issued a press release, indicating that it deemed the campaign at the A.R. Leeuwinschool regrettable. It also condemned the fact that students were being ‘deployed’ during this campaign. The foundation also made it clear that its policy is not aimed at discussing cases in public.