Directorate of Community Participation of MINERD Announces Restructuring of the Parent Teacher Associations

Directorate of Community Participation of MINERD Announces Restructuring of the Parent Teacher Associations
Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo  9/26/2011

The General Directorate of Community Participation of the Ministry of Education (MINERD in Spanish) announced the completion of restructuring the directives of the Association of Parents, Mentors and Friends of Schools (APMAE in Spanish) as well as the Courses Committees, as established by the school calendar.

Rosa Mena, director of Community Participation, reported that restructuring the 60,000 Course Committees is in its final phase, as it will be held September 5 to 30 in all schools across the country.

Rosa Mena, director of Community Participation, reported that restructuring the 60,000 Course Committees is in its final phase, as it will be held September 5 to 30 in all schools across the country. The restructuring of the directorates of the 5,000 APMAE is foreseen for October 3-28.

“We have reports of active and enthusiastic participation of parents accompanied by coordinators of the north, northeast, south, east and metropolitan areas who have spread out to different regions of the country,” she said.

After completing the processes, and as a testament to the formation of these directorates, the General Director of Community Participation received the consolidated minutes duly signed by regional directors, the centers and a technician for the organization.

The formation of Course Committees and of the APMAEs at the initial, basic and intermediate level is covered by Ordinance 09-2000, modified in December, 2010.

The Course Committees are community participation organizations through which fathers, mothers and tutors who collaborate in the educational process of their children contribute with the strengthening of family inclusion in school activities to assure a greater use of their of class lessons.

The directorate is made up of a coordinator, a secretary and a representative; their functions include representing parents and course tutors in choosing the directorate of the APMAE of the school.

The APMAE, at the same time, seeks to stimulate and support through the Course Committees as well as encourage the continued participation of families in the teaching-learning process of their children at home.

With this in mind, Minister of Education Josefina Pimentel held a series of meetings with the APMAE and with institutions of civil society to motivate them to join the MINERD in its mission to teach children and adolescents. Up to now, she has met with APMAE committees in the National District, Santiago and provinces in the northeast and east.

Minister of Education Josefina Pimentel during a meeting with the APMAE committees of the northeast region, held in San Francisco de Macorís.