Education in the Dominican Republic and its learning outcomes

The Dominican Republic celebrates increased access to education, with more students completing primary and secondary levels than ever before. However, this expansion in coverage and retention has not translated into a corresponding improvement in actual learning. A stark reality revealed by the 2026 World Education Monitoring Report (GEM 2026) shows that a mere 2% of students achieve the minimum competency level in mathematics upon finishing primary school.

This alarming statistic means that 98 out of 100 Dominican students conclude their primary education without mastering fundamental mathematical skills. Worryingly, this percentage has remained stagnant for nearly a decade, with the 2015 report also citing the same 2% figure. The GEM report labels this situation a "critical structural stagnation," contrasting sharply with the positive trends in educational access and completion.

In contrast, reading proficiency has seen a more positive, albeit low-base, evolution. The percentage of students meeting minimum reading competency at the end of primary school doubled from 8% in 2015 to 16% in 2024. Despite this improvement, the report cautions that this advance starts from a very low point, leaving approximately 84% of students still below the minimum standard upon primary completion.

Further analysis incorporating PISA 2022 results for lower secondary education reveals persistent difficulties. Only 25% of students demonstrate minimum competency in reading, and a dismal 8% in mathematics. The GEM report concludes that academic quality remains "the most critical national challenge" for the Dominican Republic as it strives to meet Sustainable Development Goal 4 by 2030.