CNE approves the 2013 draft budget proposal from the Ministry of Education

CNE approves the 2013 draft budget proposal from the Ministry of Education 
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, October 16, 2012

The National Education Council (CNE for its acronym in Spanish) unanimously approved the 2013 Draft Budget from the Ministry of Education (MINERD), in the amount of 99,648 million pesos. The objective of the proposed budgetis to meet the 4 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) that President Danilo Medina had pledged.

MINERD’s budget planned for the 2013 pre-university education represents an increase of 70.27% with respect to the 2012 budget, which was 58,524 million pesos (27.69 per cent).

MINERD’s budget planned for the 2013 pre-university education represents an increase of 70.27% with respect to the 2012 budget, which was 58,524 million pesos (27.69 per cent). The approved proposal will be presented by the Minister of Education, Josefina Pimentel, before the National Development Council.

The Minister of Education, who chairs the CNE, said that the budget proposal was prepared utilizing rationale such as the already defined policies, the National Development Strategy Act,and the priorities of the administration, taking into consideration President Danilo Medina’s government plan regarding the educational issues to which his administration will pay more attention, the macroeconomic context, the processes that are beingput together and the strategic aspects that must be secured duringhis term in office.

MINERD’spreliminary draft budget for 2013 was presented by the Vice Minister of Planning, Engineer Víctor Sánchez, who explained that the evolution of the percentage of GDP forthe education sector was 1.66 percent in 2004 and 4.75 percent in 2013.

He said that the budget for 2013 contemplates that the distribution of current expenditureswill be 65 percent over 35 percent of capital spending.The investment for the School Feeding Program (PAE for its acronym in Spanish), which includesthe extendedday project, will be 5,539 million pesos and will benefit 1,443,820 students. The 2013 budget allocation for this program doubles the amount invested in 2012.

The investment in training for quality teaching will be 1,649 million pesos; and the scheduled investmentin infrastructure and furniture will be 34,749 million pesos.

Literacy

During the CNE meeting, Luis Holguin, a member of the Technical Committee, presenteda progress report on the Quisqueya Aprende ContigoNational Literacy Plan. Some of the members of that agency presented proposals and made suggestions to enrich the program.

The day of literacy, scheduled to start on January 7, aims to overcome illiteracy among youth and adults (15 years old and over) by promoting their access to education, social inclusion and citizenship, the development of opportunities and their insertion into the work force for them to be able to attain a better quality of life, through a process of national social mobilization.

Swearing in

In addition, the fourth regular session of the CNE during 2012 was held on Friday, October 12, at MINERD’s Ercilia Pepin hall.During the session, the Minister of Education sworn in the following personsas new members of the agency: the Ministers of Sports and Culture, Dr. Jaime David Fernández Mirabal and José Antonio Rodríguez, respectively; the Vice Minister of Health, Dr. Virgilio Cedano;Engineer Ramón Sosa, from the Apec Centers for Distance Education (CENAPEC); and Maritza Rossi, Director of the Instituto Nacional de Bienestar Magisterial (INABIMA–the National Teachers’ Welfare Institute).

The following special guests attended the event: Miriam Camilo, Director General of Youth and Adult Education; Deolegario Tapia, Deputy Director of the same agency; Luis Holguín, member of the Technical Commission on Literacy; Rafael González, Vice Minister of Higher Education; and Rafael Abreu, President of the Consejo Nacional de Unidad Sindical(CNUS – National Council for the Unity of the Labor Union).

Moment when the National Education Council (CNE) unanimously approves the 2013 draft budget from the Ministry of Education.