A growing national education crisis at Suriname’s flagship higher education institution has prompted a sitting parliamentarian to demand immediate top-level government intervention to end a more than five-week strike by academic staff. Hakiem Lalmahomed, a member of the National Assembly representing the Progressive Voters Party (VHP), has formally called on the Surinamese administration to act with urgency to resolve the ongoing work stoppage at Anton de Kom University of Suriname (AdeKUS), warning that the impasse has already caused irreversible harm to thousands of innocent students. In an official letter addressed to President Jennifer Simons, Lalmahomed detailed the far-reaching damage caused by the industrial action, which has fully ground all academic activity to a halt at the country’s premier public university. Lectures, scheduled examinations, student advising and one-on-one mentorship programs have all been suspended, leaving the institution’s student body trapped in severe uncertainty and facing mounting educational and financial losses. The parliamentarian explained that the current standoff stems from a months-long stalled negotiation process between government authorities and the university’s academic staff union. Key previously agreed-upon terms, including the 2025 Employment Conditions Agreement, have not been implemented on schedule, triggering the ongoing strike. Most concerning to Lalmahomed is the disproportionate impact falling on students, who hold no stake in the dispute between staff and the government yet bear the full brunt of the disruption. To press the government for clarity and accountability, Lalmahomed has submitted 19 formal parliamentary questions to the administration. These questions cover a range of critical concerns: how the government justifies the prolonged disruption to academic activities, what emergency contingency measures will be rolled out to mitigate harm, and whether students who face delayed graduation and financial losses will receive any form of compensation. He has also drawn attention to the severe psychological toll the indefinite strike has imposed on students, as well as the growing risk that many will miss out on critical international academic and professional opportunities. Beyond immediate harm mitigation, Lalmahomed is pushing for a clear public timeline for the resumption of normal academic operations. He has also asked whether President Simons is willing to take direct personal control of the negotiations to break the deadlock, if the cabinet ministers currently overseeing the file are unable to resolve the impasse. In his letter, Lalmahomed emphasized that the situation has now reached a critical turning point. “Every single additional day that passes without classes amplifies students’ educational setbacks, increases their financial burdens, and worsens their mental distress,” he wrote. “This is no longer just a routine policy issue. It is a test of administrative responsibility and national leadership.” The lawmaker closed his appeal with a renewed call for decisive, fast action from the government to restore normal academic operations and prevent further harm to AdeKUS’s student population, which numbers in the thousands.
Lalmahomed trekt aan de bel over staking universiteit en gevolgen voor studenten
