Minister meets with experts to consider the redesign of schools

Minister meets with experts to consider the redesign of schools
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, June 21, 2012

The Education Minister, Josefina Pimentel, presided the workshop Innovación de la PlantaFísica Escolar (Innovation of the SchoolPhysical Facilities), which brought together representatives from 30 institutions and other distinguished attendeesfrom thefields of engineering and architecture, with experience in school infrastructure, to seek their support and to rethink the school facilities in order to optimize the quality of the schools that are being built.

Among other issues, those related to school innovation and their flexibility, the strict adherence to the rules and statutes governing those issues, the importance of outdoor spaces, the relationship between design and maintenance of the school facilities, their location and cost were addressed.

In her address during the workshop, Minister Pimentel reflected on “why all schools must be the same?” She said that in her opinion, schools must have an identity, be flexible, more environmentally friendly, they must allowfor the development of the curriculum, and also be attractiveand cozy spacesand dignify the work of teaching.

Meanwhile, Julio Peña, General Director of School Maintenance, pointed out that the interest of the Ministry of Education (MINERD) is to continuously improve the quality of the school environments.

“Right now, in particular, it is essential to take a fresh look at the infrastructure problem,” said Peña.

The following persons participated as lecturers during the workshop: Architects Daniel Pons, Rogelio Batista, Roberto Rijo, Marcelo Albuquerque and Engineer Leonardo Reyes Madera, who addressed the issue of School Infrastructure within the Framework of the New Seismic Code of the Dominican Republic.

Among other issues, those related to school innovation and their flexibility, the strict adherence to the rules and statutes governing those issues, the importance of outdoor spaces, the relationship between design and maintenance of the school facilities, their location and cost were addressed.

Other attendees were representatives of the: Dominican College of Engineers, Architects and Surveyors (CODIA);Dominican Society of Architects (SARD);Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM); Universidad Nacional Pedro HenríquezUreña (UNPHU); Technological Institute of Santo Domingo (INTEC); Universidad Central del Este (UCE);Universidad CatólicaTecnológica delCibao (UCATECI);Universidad CatólicaNordestana (UCNE); Technological University of Santo Domingo (UTESA); and renowned independent professionals linked to the issue of school physical facilities.

It was agreed during the workshop to have another meeting with MINERDto further discuss the issues and to achieve greater levels of fulfillment.

The Education Minister, Josefina Pimentel, presidingthe Innovation of the School Physical Facilitiesworkshop with representatives from 30 institutions and other distinguished attendeesfrom thefields of engineering and architecture. She is accompanied by Architect RossemaryFranquiz, Director of the School of Architecture at PUCMM-Santiago; the Director of the Office of International Cooperation (OIC), Fernando Ogando; and Architect Joseph Costanzo, Director of the School of Architecture at UNPHU.