Dominican Republic Ministry: 9,000 students still need school placement, not 400,000

The Dominican Republic's Ministry of Education (Minerd) has clarified that only about 9,000 students nationwide require school placement, a figure significantly lower than the 400,000 claimed by the Dominican Teachers' Association (ADP). Ancell Scheker Mendoza, the vice minister of Technical and Pedagogical Services at Minerd, stated that the ministry is committed to ensuring every student finds a spot before the new school year begins on August 24.

To address the remaining demand, Minerd is employing several strategies. These include relocating students to schools with available capacity, renting educational spaces, partnering with private schools for student placement with institutional support, and setting up prefabricated classrooms for immediate needs. The ministry is also evaluating adjustments to school transportation routes to help students reach schools with open slots.

The issue of students needing placement is most acute in areas experiencing rapid population growth, such as Santo Domingo and Higüey. Minerd attributes this concentration to internal migration driven by job opportunities, particularly in regions with developing tourism and hotel projects. The expansion of the extended school day program also contributes to the need for more infrastructure.

The Dominican education system currently has over 60,000 classrooms, with approximately 1,200 new ones added this year. The ministry anticipates incorporating another 300 in the coming months. Minerd is also developing an application to monitor student placement and classroom availability.

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We have the commitment that no one will be left out.