Ministry of Education to Invest 123 Million for Construction of Two Large Schools in Capotillo Neighborhood

Ministry of Education to Invest 123 Million for Construction of Two Large Schools in Capotillo Neighborhood
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 09/26/2013

The Ministry of Education (MINERD in Spanish) will invest $123 million Dominican pesos in the construction of two schools in the Capotillo neighborhood, one with 20 classrooms and the other with 24, where thousands of students from that neighborhood andsurrounding areas will have access to education.

He said the Ministry has sufficient resourcesfor the construction of both schools, where the neighborhood children will have access to a quality education, free breakfast, lunch and snacks. “But for the building to take place, we need your help. The way you can assist us is by helping us choosethe spots where the schools can be built.”

Minister of Education, Carlos AmaranteBaret, overseeing the opening of the newly renovatedSalomé Ureña Education Center in Capotillo, confirmed that the solution to the problem of la ack of classrooms in the neighborhood is essential and that a high level MINERD commission will meet next Monday to deal with the situation. Representatives from community, religious and cultural organizations from the area will decide the best location for the two new schools.

He said the Ministry has sufficient resourcesfor the construction of both schools, where the neighborhood children will have access to a quality education, free breakfast, lunch and snacks. “But for the building to take place, we need your help. The way you can assist us is by helping us choosethe spots where the schools can be built.”

“All of us need to trust our President Danilo Medina and our Minister of Education. Capotillo will also be benefitted by the work being done for education by President Medina. You all have a right to a quality education, just like the education that the children of wealthy receive…we can’t do it alone,” said Amarante Baret.

The Minister of Education made this proposal at the opening of the Salomé UreñaSchool, rebuilt from an old building that used to be a Labor College at 6 North Street (Calle 6 Norte), with a budget of RD$6,898,443.85, as a provisional measure so that 260 students don’tmiss out onthe academic year.

“We’ve talked with community leaders to help us locate the right terrain to begin construction of the two schools in Capotilloas soon as possible. We have money to pay to whoever voluntarily decides to cede their land,” Minister AmaranteBaret explained.

With the construction of this school, Minister AmaranteBaretis responding to demands of the neighborhood residents, who were asking for government intervention because of the deteriorated state of the school.

The rehabilitation of the school, being undertaken by the General Directorate of School Maintenance of the Ministry of Education, in addition to the reconstruction of six classrooms, access sidewalks, a perimeter fence and reinforced concrete.

The rehabilitation also includes the construction of walls, finishing of surfaces, ceilings and staircases, as well as fixing the sanitary and electric installations, floors, sidewalks, doors, windows, painting and other miscellaneous jobs.

With the repair of these classrooms and other areas of the building, students at the Salomé Ureña Education Center will be taking their classes in an optimum learning environment, just as the Capotillo community has requested.

At the opening of the new Salomé Ureña School,others who spoke included Cristian del Carmen, Interim School Principal; Pastor ReinaldoReynoso, representing the parents and the community; and student Milenny Contreras who thanked all involved. The priest of the Church of Santa Clara de Asís blessed the occasion.

Also in attendance, accompanying the Minister of Education, were ElpidioBáez, member of the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD); Francisca Suero, director of the Santo Domingo Regional 15; and Omar Guevara, General Director of School Maintenance and Infrastructure.