Today, Dirk Currie will take his oath as the new Minister of Education, Science and Culture at the Presidential Palace in Paramaribo. The ceremony, heralded by the President's Office, marks the official start of his term of office on behalf of the National Party Suriname (NPS).
Currie could not be sworn in earlier because he spent extended periods of time abroad for medical reasons. With his return and today's inauguration, that now comes to a permanent end.
The newly appointed minister has an impressive curriculum vitae: having worked in the financial sector for many years, he held key roles at Telesur and is known as a top manager with more than 30 years of leadership experience. His in-depth knowledge of business management and strategic restructuring forms the basis of his plans.
Under Currie's leadership, education will undergo a major overhaul. There will be measurably higher learning efficiency, better alignment with the labor market, and active policies against opportunity inequality. Advanced ICT applications and distance learning will be prioritized, while curricula with special focus on the environment and exercise education will be subject to rigorous evaluation. For higher education, he also promises a boost in innovation and research orientation so that Surinamese students will be ready for the challenges of the 21st century.
