The Ministry of Onderwijs, Wetenschap en Cultuur (MinOWC; Education, Science and Culture) formally endorsed the higher professional education programme in Public Administration and Government Management (B&O) of the Ministry of Binnenlandse Zaken (BiZa; Home Affairs) on Tuesday, 3 November 2026. With this step, both ministries aim to contribute to the further professionalisation of Suriname’s civil service.
The official endorsement took place during a meeting attended by representatives of both ministries. The programme is provided by BiZa’s Personnel Development department and offers civil servants the opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills in the field of public administration and government management.
Investing in the expertise of civil servants
Minister Dirk Currie of Onderwijs, Wetenschap en Cultuur congratulated the BiZa delegation on reaching this milestone. He stressed the importance of lifelong learning and stated that continuing education is necessary to further strengthen expertise within the government.
According to Currie, offering targeted training programmes to civil servants contributes to the development of a more professional government apparatus. He therefore expressed his appreciation for the initiative by Binnenlandse Zaken.
BiZa Minister Delano Bee also underscored the importance of continued investment in the professional development of government personnel. According to him, the government must continue to seek opportunities to better equip employees for their duties and the changing demands within public administration.
50 training places currently available
The higher professional education programme in Public Administration and Government Management currently has room for a maximum of 50 participants. The ministry intends to further expand training opportunities in the future.
This will involve the development of the Government School, where online education is to play an important role. By offering programmes digitally, BiZa aims to reach a larger group of civil servants and improve access to further training.
Appreciation for those involved
During the meeting, Minister Bee expressed his appreciation for Kavita Gangadien, coordinator of the programme, and Deputy Minister Kelvin Koniki of Binnenlandse Zaken. According to the minister, both made an important contribution to the establishment of the training programme.
Bee also thanked President Jennifer Simons for her support for initiatives aimed at the sustainable professionalisation of the civil service. With the formal endorsement of the programme, MinOWC and BiZa are taking a further step in their efforts to offer civil servants more opportunities for further education and career development.
