Suriname education unions urge President to reintroduce LBO B-direction

Surinamese education unions, including the Federatie van Organisaties van Leerkrachten in Suriname (FOLS), the Bond van Leraren bij het Technisch Onderwijs (BLTO), and BvL/ALS, met with President Jennifer Simons to advocate for reforms in vocational education.

The primary demand from the unions is the reintroduction of the LBO B-direction, a vocational track that was discontinued in October 2025. BLTO Chairperson Jennifer Ballo emphasized that the B-level was specifically designed for the “ambachtsgroep” (craft group), catering to students with strong practical and manual talents.

According to the unions, the current system lacks the specialized practical pathways that allowed students to enter the workforce immediately while maintaining the option to continue their education through evening schools. They argued that the previous distinctions between A, B, and C tracks represented different learning needs rather than a hierarchy of intelligence. The unions expressed concern that the current practical education model may lead students to leave school too early to seek immediate income, potentially limiting their long-term educational opportunities.