In a symbolic back-to-school event held Saturday in Nieuw-Nickerie, Suriname President Jennifer Simons oversaw the distribution of free school packages to local students, while outlining the government’s ongoing plans to repair school infrastructure and overhaul the country’s education system.
Organized under the unifying theme “The future begins at school; together we build tomorrow,” the initiative provided fully stocked schoolbags to hundreds of students, with high-performing students who earned strong end-of-term report cards receiving additional small gifts to reward their academic efforts. The packages, made possible through a partnership between the government and Suriname’s private sector, are designed to ease financial burdens on families preparing for the new academic year.
During the event, President Simons emphasized that the donation program is intended to offer tangible support to caregivers, noting that collective mutual assistance is a foundational value for strong communities. She openly acknowledged the challenges the national government faces in guaranteeing universal access to quality education and adequate nutrition for all children across Suriname, stressing that progress will take consistent, long-term effort rather than quick fixes.
President Simons also extended public gratitude to the private sector for its repeated collaboration with the administration, highlighting that business community support extends beyond this single back-to-school initiative to other government-led social programs. On the topic of broader education reforms, she confirmed that the government is currently carrying out repair and renovation works on aging school facilities across the country, and is holding active consultations with teaching professionals to identify evidence-based strategies to boost overall education system efficiency.
The event was also attended by key Surinamese political figures, including Ashwin Adhin, Chairperson of the National Assembly (DNA), Nickerie District Commissioner Nisha Kurban-Baboe, and Member of Parliament Ebu Jones. Adhin framed the investment in student support as a long-term national development play, whose positive impacts will emerge over time rather than immediately. Echoing this outlook, he quoted the common proverb “You reap what you sow,” before calling on parents to practice patience and engagement with their children’s learning and encouraging students to maintain consistent effort in their studies.