Minister of Education Hands Over School with Seven Classrooms in Hermanas Mirabal Province

Minister of Education Hands Over School with Seven Classrooms in Hermanas Mirabal Province
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 2/12/2012

Education Minister, Josefina Pimentel, inaugurated the Félix María Capellán Bueno Education Center in the community of Jayabo, Salcedo in the Hermanas Mirabal Province, which was built at a cost of 18, 942, 554 Dominican pesos.

“Since the beginning of 2012, we have handed over eleven new schools to a variety of communities and 71 schools since last June 10th.  These schools will provide new spaces to enroll more than 20,000 students all over the country,” …

With this new school, which will benefit 490 students, the Ministry of Education (MINERD in Spanish) continues its program of school inaugurations  as contemplated in its Plan of Action undertaken at the beginning of 2012.

The main speech of the opening event was given by the Education Minister who reported that the school has seven classrooms, an administration area built for teacher, personnel and resources management as well as a kitchen for storage, prep, organization and/or food distribution.

There is also a civic plaza for patriotic activities, a garden and a mesh cyclone fence around the perimeter to guarantee the safety of the students. In addition, there is a dual system servicing the drinking water supply with a tubular well and an underground pump. There is also a city aqueduct and cistern with an 8,000-gallon capacity.

Minister Pimentel said that inaugurating this school fills her with joy because it is yet another sign of interest on the part of the government to continue improving the infrastructure of the schools and elevating the quality of Dominican education.

In her speech, she mentioned last Wednesday’s opening of several schools in the municipality of Yamasá. Those schools were the Demetrio Hernández School of Los Camarones; the Rafael María Díaz School of Los Botados II and the Brígido Nolasco School of Yamasá, all built at a total cost of $75,015, 363.40 Dominican pesos.

“Since the beginning of 2012, we have handed over eleven new schools to a variety of communities and 71 schools since last June 10th.  These schools will provide new spaces to enroll more than 20,000 students all over the country,” said the Minister.

She also reminded her listeners that last January 13th, accompanied by President Leonel Fernández, she opened the Juan Bosch Education Center in en Cotuí, the Sánchez Ramírez Province with an investment of over 41,558,000 pesos. “Days later, on January 20th, the President and I inaugurated the Sacred Heart of Jesus School in Comendador, Elías Piña, which was built at a cost of 77,122, 701 pesos and will serve a population of 630 students,” she added.

She also mentioned that on January 25th, MINERD opened the Professor Juan Bosch School in the Las Brisas sector of Santo Domingo East which was built with 23,842, 849 pesos.

This school opening was blessed by Father Robinson Mejía, of the Buen Pastor Church. Also, Luis René Canaán, Senator from the Province of Hermanas Mirabal, thanked President Leonel Fernández and MINERD authorities for the building of the school, which he called essential in fulfilling the dream of the people of this area.

Sixth grade student, Pedro Luis Gil, speaking in the name of his fellow classmates, thanked those responsible for the new school which he said was in keeping with the new times.

Minister Pimentel handed over the keys of the school to the new Director, María Victoria Hernández Tomás, and sports equipment to the students with the idea of promoting physical and recreational activity.

The inaugural event of the Félix María Capellán Bueno School was treated to a presentation by a group of students who recited a poem and song about taking care of their new school.

At the end of the inaugural ceremony, Minister Pimentel was given a bouquet of flowers from the students Elizamar García and Vanesa Acosta, among others.

Also present at the activity were Deputy Ministers from MINERD, Ana Rita Guzmán and William Sifres, Director de School Infrastructure, as well as Administrative Director, Yury Rodríguez. Others attending included Province Deputy Afilt Risek; Director of Regional 07 District of Salcedo, Zoila Camilo; Director of School District 07-02, Plinio Cabrera and Public Health Deputy Minister, José Rodríguez, among others.

Minister of Education, Josefina Pimentel, speaking at the inauguration of the Félix María Capellán Bueno School where she is accompanied, from left to right, by the Director of District 07-02, Plinio Cabrera; Deputy Minister of MINERD, Ana Rita Guzmán and William Sifres; Province Deputy Afilt Risek and Senator Luis René Canaán; Director of Regional 07, Zoila Camilo; Deputy Minister of Public Health, José Rodríguez; Director of the new school, María Victoria Hernández Tomás and Administrative Director of MINERD, Yury Rodríguez.