Education Ministry to Increase Resources to Decentralized School Boards by 300% in 2013

Education Ministry to Increase Resources to Decentralized School Boards by 300% in 2013
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 4/11/2013

The Ministry of Education (MINERD in Spanish) is projecting the transfer of 5.4 million pesos this year to the Decentralized Regional School Boards, District and School Offices, which represents an increase of 300% from 2012, when they received $1.5 million Dominican pesos. This budget increase is unprecedented in the history of the Dominican education system.

“We want to strengthen the decentralized school boards on a regional and district level, but above all, in the schools ….

This information was announced by Education Minister, Josefina Pimentel at a commemorative ceremony on the National Day for Educational Decentralization held in the Legislator Club where 25 outstanding decentralized school organizations were recognized.

“We want to strengthen the decentralized school boards on a regional and district level, but above all, in the schools themselves so that they become part of the families, churches, legislators, businesses and regular people of the communityand feel the schools are a part of them and the children are everyone’s responsibility,” said the Minister.

These decentralized school boards, noted Minister Pimentel, open the possibility of more participation that ultimately generates commitment, responsibility, democracy and community life for the greater good.

Pimentel, inspired by 12-year-old 6th grader Francis Tapia who won the 2010 School Song Festival organized by District Distrito 15-01, stressed that children need just one opportunity to fully develop, to develop integrity to be able to insert his or herself into society from a perspective of  productive work and a life centered around values.

A student from the Mi Bandera School in the Los Alcarrizos community, with her beautiful voice and talent, entertained MINERD, its regional, district and school directors, parents and everyone present.

Ms. Pimentel said that when she arrived at MINERD, there was only a 212 million-peso budget but they continued creating the conditions and empowering everyone involved to become part of the education system and take on the commitment of constructing a decent, high quality education system.

Meanwhile the Director General of Educational Management and Decentralization, Alexis Fradera, in his report on the 2012 projects, noted thatof the 852 school that were established, 98 of them were operating with extended days; 423 decentralized boards were legalized and 623 school boards were restructured.

Likewise, MINERDannounced its plan to form 1,872 school boards, which will increase by77% the types of schools with this type of management; the goal is to reach 100% by 2014.

Mr. Fradera added that 1,823 decentralized boards will be restructured, which implies an increase of 193% as compared to 2012. The training sessions will cover up to3,743 Decentralized Boards,with a 70% impact on those already formed, including the new ones and another 2,579 that will be monitored.

“Minister Pimentel continued taking the necessary measures as issued under the directives of PresidentDanilo Medina, to continue moving from theory into practice and changing what in the past could be pure dreams into reality. Thank you Madam Minister for believing in decentralization,” said Mr.Fradera.

The celebration, held on April 8th and 9th, for National Educational Decentralization Day began with a Eucharist offering at the First Cathedral of America, officiated by Auxiliary Bishop of Santo Domingo, Monsignor Pablo Cedanofollowed by the laying of a floral wreath on the Altar of the Patria.

Four regional boards, 7 districts and 25 schools were recognized at the National Educational Decentralization Day.

Those present included at deputy ministers Víctor Sánchez and Giselle Féliz and the general directorsAdarbertoMartínez and Minerva Pérez;Dorotea Guerrero and Ramón Pérez Rodríguez, deputy directors of Management and Educational Decentralization, Father Carlos Peña, from the Board of Directors of Educational Management.

The activity at the Legislator Club. Minister Josefina Pimentel hands out certificates to representatives of the outstanding Decentralized Boards.


The commemoration of Decentralization Day began on Monday with a Mass at the First Cathedral of America and a parade to the Altar of Patria where they placed a floral wreath. They continued on Tuesday by recognizing the  Decentralized Boards.