BAKU: Colonialism continues to have an intense and lasting impact on the education system today, Human rights activist Felipe Santiago Melaan said during the international conference on the Bonaire island in Baku, Trend reports.
He highlighted that the structure and standards of schools in Bonaire are still significantly influenced by norms and values imposed by colonizers.
‘The rules and system are often designed to cater to the needs and preferences of Dutch students rather than the local population. Hiring practices in our education system also reflect this bias, with many vacancies aimed at attracting Dutch educators. This preference not only marginalizes local teachers but also perpetuates a system where Dutch remains the primary language in education – the language of the former oppressors,’ he added.
Baku is hosting an international conference focused on Bonaire, an island that is under Dutch colonial rule. The event is organized by the Baku Initiative Group and the Movement for Human Rights and Cha
nge on Bonaire Island.
The ‘Path to Bonaire’s Self-Determination at the UN General Assembly through Baku Initiative Group’ conference has brought together representatives from Bonaire, who are fighting against colonialism, along with officials and delegates from Belize, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, St. Lucia, the UK, Mexico, the Netherlands, the UN, and other international and regional organizations. Human rights activists, NGO leaders, experts, and researchers in the field of decolonization will also participate in the conference.
Source: Trend News Agency