Amarante Baret states that the National Pact will address the main problems affecting Dominican education

Amarante Baret states that the National Pact will address the main problems affecting Dominican education
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 09/16/2013

The Minister of Education, Mr. Carlos Amarante Baret, claimed on Saturday that the National Pact for a Quality Education, presented last Thursday by President Danilo Medina, will benefit our boys, girls, and adolescents, will dignify and train teachers and will address the main problems that affect higher education and vocational training.

… Mr. Amarante Baret said that President Medina is implementing a set of measures to promote national education, which are the basis for the discussions that will lead up to the signing of the National Pact for Education.

As keynote speaker at the graduation ceremony of 945 professionals from the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM), Mr. Amarante Baret said that President Medina is implementing a set of measures to promote national education, which are the basis for the discussions that will lead up to the signing of the National Pact for Education.

Of the graduates, 661 received a bachelor’s degree, and 284 postgraduate and master’s degrees, which he described as “another achievement of our university under the leadership of Rector Magnificus, Monsignor Agripino Núñez Collado.” The graduation ceremony was held at the Sans Soucí Convention Center.

The Minister of Education, who studied at the then Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra, where he graduated as a lawyer in 1984, urged the graduates to enhance the Homeland with their work and efforts, because “their families have made sacrifices to bring you to this place and they are proud. Now it is your turn to continue moving forward.”

Among the actions undertaken by President Medina in favor of education, Amarante Baret said that the Head of State plans to build 28,000 new classrooms, and he is working on the implementation of the Expanded School Day, the construction of Childcare facilities, and the development of the Literacy National Plan.
As for the National Pact for a Quality Education, the Minister of Education said that the discussions that will culminate with its signature and the commitment of all stakeholders, will touch on issues such as the dignity of the teaching profession, the enhancement and improvement of the levels of training and competence of our teachers, the development of a new generation of teachers, and the compliance with the schedule and school calendar.

Other issues that will be discussed are the creation of an effective performance evaluation system and the integration of the family and the community to the school.
“The Economic and Social Council, under the prudent and wise leadership of our Archbishop Agripino Núñez, is responsible for coordinating this great national consultation leading up to the signing of the Pact,” he said.

Amarante Baret, who recalled the difficulties he had to face to study at the then Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra, where he had to resort to student loans and having to ask for rides to travel from his native Moca to Santiago, praised Rector Núñez Collado, who, he said, has played a starring role “not only in the management of our university, but in the process of democratic consolidation of the Nation.”

He said that Núñez Collado’s interventions have been opportune each time there has been national unrest, and that his contributions will be forever recognized.

“This university helped me complete my views of the world and life, and prepared me for the great challenges that I have faced. Today I am proud to have graduated from my Mater et Magistra,” said the Minister of Education.

He indicated that “it is impossible to speak of the economic, social and institutional development of the Dominican Republic without recognizing the momentous contributions of our university.”

Meanwhile, in his speech, Monsignor Agripino Núñez Collado emphasized the Minister of Education’s academic training and intense participation in the life of the Nation and his efficient performance and responsibilities in the municipality of Moca, in the National Congress, and in the different positions he has held in government.

“We are confident that for this new and important responsibility that His Excellency the President of the Republic, Mr. Danilo Medina, has entrusted to him, Minister Amarante Baret meets all the conditions for a successful management, especially at this time when the country, at all levels, expects and needs an education that is inclusive, efficient, comprehensive and of excellence,” said Núñez Collado.

He said that the call made by President Danilo Medina for a National Pact for Educational Reform, aims to achieve this goal with the broadest participation of all sectors of society.

Also present at the graduation ceremony were: Cardinal Nicolás de Jesús López Rodríguez; the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Ligia Amada Melo; members of the Board of Directors of the PUCMM, and special guests.