Protesters demand end to school reconstruction delays in Santiago

More than 800 students in Santiago remain out of the classroom as parents, teachers, and community leaders protested the stalled reconstruction of the Rafaela Jiminián school. Demonstrators chained themselves in front of the school in the Cienfuegos sector, demanding that the Ministry of Education accelerate the repair work and guarantee conditions for the students' return.

The protest was sparked by a lack of significant progress on the school's reconstruction. Community members reported that the work is practically paralyzed, leaving students without a safe place to learn. "We are tied hand and foot, because we can't do anything. We don't even have bathrooms to use," said Professor Marisol Félix, expressing the teachers' desire to return to their students but citing the school's current state as a barrier.

Eloísa Díaz Contreras, a mother of three students at the school, urgently called for a solution, noting that her children are at home with no set date for resuming classes. José Alberto Brito, president of the Dominican Association of Teachers in Santiago Oeste, condemned the abandonment of the construction work as "savagery." He explained that the school community was evacuated on May 25, 2025, due to structural problems, including cracks in foundations and columns. Despite months passing, the project's progress is reportedly under 20%.

Teachers have resorted to holding classes in the school's yard, under trees, due to the lack of adequate facilities. The situation has prevented approximately 800 students from starting the academic year. Community leaders, including evangelical pastor Pablo Ureña, have appealed directly to President Luis Abinader and educational authorities to intervene personally. They warned that protests would continue if work does not resume and a concrete return date for students is not established. The Rafaela Jiminián school is one of 11 schools in the Santiago province where the academic year has not begun due to ongoing construction or renovation projects.