Bridging distances

Reflections on STEM education in Suriname’s interior

Authors

  • Jena M. Collins Austin Peay State University, USA
  • Philip C. Short Austin Peay State University, USA
  • John McConnell III Austin Peay State University, USA
  • Andrea Rakushin Lee Austin Peay State University, USA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32674/9vzk4594

Abstract

This article shares reflections from a 2-week research trip to Suriname’s remote Sipaliwini District, where a U.S.-based research group engaged in conversations with teachers and administrators to discuss teaching and administrative experiences, STEM education integration, challenges of teaching in remote areas, and recommendations for policy and practice. The article includes background information on the education system of Suriname and some of the predominant challenges faced in remote schools within the interior of the country. This article is a reflective scholarly account drawing on field experiences. It highlights issues related to access, infrastructure, and educational equity in interior communities of Suriname.

References

Ministry of Education, Science and Culture. (2024). National Education Policy Suriname 2024-2031: Towards a future of opportunities.

Ministry of Social Affairs and Public Housing. (2019). Suriname Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2018, Survey findings report.

United Nations News. (2020, January 31). Suriname’s climate promise, for a sustainable future. https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/01/1056422

United Nations. (2015). Transforming our world: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. United Nations. https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda

UNESCO. (2016). Education 2030: Incheon Declaration and Framework for Action for the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 4. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000245656

Additional Files

Published

2026-06-16

Issue

Vol. 24 (2026): American Journal of STEM Education

Section

STEM Education (regular)

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Jena M. Collins, Philip C. Short, John McConnell III, Andrea Rakushin Lee

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Copyright (c) [year] [author]
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

How to Cite

Collins, J. M., Short, P. C., McConnell III, J., & Lee, A. R. (2026). Bridging distances: Reflections on STEM education in Suriname’s interior. American Journal of STEM Education, 24, 229-338. https://doi.org/10.32674/9vzk4594