Teachers in Suriname will not receive a general salary increase at the end of November, but a revaluation of their positions. This is evident from statements by Minister Marinus Bee of Binnenlandse Zaken (Home Affairs), who answered journalists’ questions on Wednesday ahead of the meeting of the Raad van Ministers (Council of Ministers, RvM).
According to the minister, no salary negotiations have been held with the education unions. “We have not held salary negotiations with the education unions,” Bee stated. According to the minister, the presidential negotiating group, which holds talks with the education unions, has been tasked with reassessing the position of teachers within society.
This involved considering the social role of educators and the responsibilities they fulfil within education. “What is the role of educators? And that is what we assessed,” the minister said.
Revaluation should improve remuneration
Based on this assessment, shifts will take place in the valuation of education positions, according to Bee. These adjustments should lead to better remuneration for teachers.
“This will result in better remuneration for teachers,” the minister stated. Bee stressed that the revaluation will not be accompanied by changes to tax brackets. The adjustments are based solely on the qualifications and responsibilities of educators.
The distinction between a general salary increase and a revaluation is important, according to the minister’s explanation. In a revaluation, remuneration is adjusted on the basis of the grading and valuation of the position, while a general salary increase generally concerns a broader adjustment of wages.
Proposal awaits approval
The proposal for the revaluation was presented on Wednesday during the meeting of the Raad van Ministers. Bee expressed the hope that it would be approved as soon as possible.
It is not yet clear how substantial the financial improvement for individual teachers will be and whether all educators will benefit from the revaluation to the same extent.
It also remains to be seen when the new valuation will be definitively established and how it will be incorporated into the salary payment at the end of November.
