Valies says ACI will resume battle on October 1

“When the school year starts in October, the teachers and students of the Albert Cameron Institute (ACI) will resume the battle for their school,” said Wilgo Valies, chairman of the Teachers’ Association (BvL). Valies added that he is curious to know if the incorporation of the ACI in the Surinamese Pedagogical Institute will happen next week as planned. He pointed out that the students and the teachers must enjoy their vacation now. “Dismantling the ACI and moving the students and the teachers to the SPI is not good for these institutes of education,” said Valies who added that the SPI will be overcrowded and that this will put huge pressure on the quality of education. “The government’s policy clearly states that the objective is for each primary school to have 300 pupils max. At a school for secondary education at junior level there must be no more than 400 students and at a secondary school at senior level there must be 500 students max,” said Valies. The ACI in its current form is within the law but the SPI with more than 1,000 students is already in violation. “By incorporating the ACI in the SPI, one problem is solved by creating an even bigger problem,” said Valies who added that the BvL will try to find a solution to the problem. For now the most reasonable solution is to let the students at the ACI graduate while gradually closing down the school. Closing down the ACI permanently without prior warning and moving the teachers and students to the SPI seems merciless.”