Oduber(MEP): Government has surplus, but education still lacks resources

ORANJESTAD – Member of Parliament Dangui Oduber is criticizing the government and Minister Gerlien Croes for what he describes as a lack of priority for education at the start of the new school year.

According to Oduber, while the government has a surplus of around Afl. 700 million, several schools continue to face serious infrastructure problems and shortages of resources.

He pointed to deteriorating playgrounds, gyms and other school facilities. Oduber also criticized the government for not yet fulfilling a promise to install solar panels at schools to reduce energy costs and ease the burden of air-conditioning fees on parents.

Oduber argues that more funding should be directed toward repairing schools, improving teachers’ working conditions and salaries, and providing better educational tools. He questioned why teachers are still spending their own money to prepare classrooms despite the government’s reported surplus.

He also criticized Minister Croes over what he sees as insufficient progress and questioned what concrete benefits her official trips abroad have produced for Aruba’s education system.