The Minister of Higher Education and Microsoft Dominicana signed an agreement called the Alliance for Education which will provide access to technology and training to teachers and students.

The agreement, to run for five years, seeks to encourage the use of technology as an aid to teaching and learning in public schools...

The agreement, to run for five years, seeks to encourage the use of technology as an aid to teaching and learning in public schools in order to create innovative schools, teachers, and students.

Melanio Paredes, Dominican Minister of Education, said the agreement will effectively contribute to the implementation and use of technology in our schools, allowing them to offer a current and up-to-date academic curriculum. “Thanks to this Alliance for Education Program, thousands of students in basic education will be receiving quality education through the use of technological tools,” said Mr. Paredes according to a press release from Microsoft.

Juan Lora, Microsoft Manager in the Dominican Republic, said the Alliance for Education is an initiative that seeks to provide development for teachers and students.

“For Microsoft, this program is a long-term commitment with schools and teachers with the idea of forming a base along which they can continue to learn and teach. Improved access to technology which this initiative offers will result in strong academic achievement as well as students and teachers who are well-informed in technology. Over the long term, this will help increase productivity and contribute to strengthening of the economy of the Dominican Republic,” said Mr. Lara. “Alliance for Education does not represent just one single donation of technology but is rather a long-term commitment on the part of Microsoft to establish ongoing contacts with local school, teachers and partners with the goal of forming a base for continuous advancement in learning and teaching.

“The Alliance for Education allows for teachers and students to achieve their full potential by giving them a way to develop their abilities with information technology and communication (ITC), personalized teacher-training in curriculum design as well as access to the latest in computer and information technology,” added Juan Lora.

Speaking about the outreach aspect of the Alliance for Education agreement, he said the program includes the distribution of supplies, training, experience and technological design to help schools better prepare students for life and work in the 21st century. In addition to distribution of supplies and tools, there will be forums and resources for teachers to form practice communities to garner support and cooperation as well as access to quality content to help integrate the technology into learning and teaching.

In the Dominican Republic, including the first phase of this program, Microsoft has donated more than $2 million dollars in direct training support programs, donations of material and subsidies in the acquisition of licensing.