Cultural Sensitivity of the Education Quality Intervention: A Qualitative Study Providing Insight Into Elements Contributing to Cultural Sensitivity of the Edu-q intervention at Primary and Secondary schools (Paramaribo and Saramacca)

Abstract

The Edu-q intervention has been implemented in Surinam in March 2019. This intervention is developed by Edukans, an international NGO with head quarters in the Netherlands. The intervention makes use of the Edu-q card assessment tool. With this intervention Edukans strives for good quality of education on a global scale, taking a participatory and monitoring evaluation (PM&E) approach. The participatory stakeholders are: inspectors, school leaders, teachers and parents. This qualitative study has provided insight into the elements contributing to cultural sensitivity of the Edu-q intervention in Surinam at primary and secondary schools (Paramaribo and Saramacca). An answer has been formulated on the basis of 21 semi-structured interviews with the stakeholders. It has appeared that the content of the Edu-q card can remain the same, but formulations should be adapted to their culture in order to reach the intended consequences of Edukans. Futhermore, in terms of their approach; hierarchy, socioeconomic status and language, seemed to be the most important elements to take into account in order to achieve cultural sensitivity of the Edu-q intervention.