BPS prepares young people for higher education with LevelUP

During the holiday college, participants will be taught various skills that are important for their further studies and personal development. Attention will be paid, among other things, to arguing, forming an independent opinion, effective studying, cooperation, listening and discipline.

According to BPS project leader Mildred Demon, it is not enough merely to point out to young people the importance of further education. They must also possess the skills needed to make a successful transition to higher education.

“With LevelUP, we want young people to discover that they can achieve more when they are well prepared and believe in themselves,” Demon says.

Attention to practical skills

Based on research, BPS concludes that Suriname needs more highly educated people to support sustainable development. At the same time, according to the foundation, programmes are needed that encourage young people to continue their education after secondary school.

The foundation notes that young people do not always possess the social and personal skills needed to function successfully in higher education. The LevelUP Holiday College therefore focuses on competencies that do not always receive sufficient attention within regular education.

The training sessions will be held from Monday to Thursday at Stibula on Tigristraat and the Surinaams Pedagogisch Instituut on Jagernath Lachmonstraat. Selected and trained teachers will provide the lessons together with teaching assistants. The programme runs daily from 08.00 to 12.00 hours.

Information on study and career opportunities

The holiday college will conclude on Friday, 18 September, with information booths and presentations on studying, health and future career opportunities.

De Nationale Ontwikkelingsbank provides information on study financing. The Dermatological Service provides information on preventing sexually transmitted diseases. TotalEnergies informs participants about developments and career opportunities within Suriname’s oil and gas sector.

The programme is led by Henriette Blokland. Het Cultuurfonds and Wings of Support support the initiative. Interested persons can still register via the Facebook page of Stichting Better Prepared Suriname.

The first LevelUP Holiday College has been set up as a pilot. BPS wants to expand the initiative in the future into an annual programme that prepares and encourages young people, including first-generation students, to pursue further studies at a college or university.