Teachers' group criticizes extended school day conditions, citing lack of facilities

The Juan Pablo Duarte Teachers' Current has raised concerns about the implementation of the extended school day program in the Dominican Republic's public schools. The organization, operating within the Dominican Teachers' Association (ADP), argues that the program, which aims to extend the school day to eight hours, is being rolled out without adequate infrastructure.

Menegildo De La Rosa, president of the current, highlighted that many schools designed for two shifts have been converted to the extended day model without expanding their facilities. This has resulted in overcrowding for both students and teachers. De La Rosa cited an example of a school that initially served around 304 students in two shifts using six classrooms, but now faces strain under the extended day system.

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far from turning educational centers into attractive spaces for students, the model has been implemented in many cases without the necessary classrooms, water, bathrooms, and spaces.

The extended school day program was initiated in 2012 with the goal of making educational centers more attractive to students. However, the Juan Pablo Duarte Teachers' Current contends that the current implementation falls short, with many centers lacking essential amenities such as sufficient classrooms, water, and functional bathrooms. The organization suggests that these deficiencies detract from the program's intended benefits, creating challenging environments rather than appealing ones.

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numerous centers designed to operate in two shifts were converted to extended school day without expanding their infrastructure, which has caused overcrowding for students and teachers.