{"id":7971,"date":"2017-03-02T15:55:00","date_gmt":"2017-03-02T15:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.dominicana-online.org\/?page_id=7971"},"modified":"2018-04-04T19:37:00","modified_gmt":"2018-04-04T19:37:00","slug":"hitos-de-la-educacion-dominicana","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.dominicanaonline.org\/en\/educacion\/hitos-de-la-educacion-dominicana\/","title":{"rendered":"Pillars of Dominican Education"},"content":{"rendered":"

The traits and dynamics of educational systems highlight and determine the development of society to a large extent. In the Dominican Republic, education has been declared a pillar of the new national economic model, passing relevant milestones that have guided the search for equity and quality of education.<\/p>\n

Among them, we can mention the following, which are complemented by other important definitions at the national and international levels [1]<\/a>:<\/p>\n

In the early 1990s: first initiatives of social participation and planning of educational goals<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n

In the early 1990s, civil society and some sectors of the business community began to worry about education, making the issue part of their agendas and collaborating with the Ministry of Education. This resulted in initiatives such as the Ten-Year Education Plan of 1992, and the creation of the General Education Act No. 66-97 [2]<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ten-Year Education Plan 2008-2018 of the Ministry of Education (MINERD)<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n

http:\/\/www.educando.edu.do\/index.php?cID=110612<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

The Plan is a national effort to establish policies and strategies that help guide the development of quality education. The core themes of the 10 policies that make up the Plan are: early childhood education and primary education; increased coverage of secondary education and adult education; curriculum development and improvement of core competencies – reading, logical reasoning, values, sciences, ICTs; evaluation of the entire pre-university education system; compliance with school schedules required for quality education; professional development of teaching staff; educational equity and support for the most vulnerable segments; community participation in the development of educational policies, programs and projects; strengthening of the education system; and financing for education.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

National Development Strategy (END) 2010-2030<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n

http:\/\/economia.gob.do\/mepyd\/estrategia-nacional-de-desarrollo-2030\/<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

The design of this strategy has been the result of consensual work carried out with the participation of broad national and international sectors. Its purpose is to promote national development and economic growth that would result in greater levels of equity, freedom and civil rights. The END (for its Spanish acronym) includes pillars, objectives and courses of action aimed at promoting change and the improvement of the Dominican education system.<\/p>\n

The educational sector is framed in pillar No. 2 of the National Development Strategy 2010-2030: \u201cA society with equal rights and opportunities, in which the entire population is guaranteed to receive quality education, health and basic services, and which promotes the gradual reduction of poverty and social and territorial inequality.\u201d<\/em> \u00a0In turn, general objective 2.1 provides: \u201c<\/strong>Quality education for all\u201d<\/em> and has engendered specific objectives. Specific objective 2.1.1 establishes: \u201cEducation must be universal from early childhood education until high school is completed\u201d and specific objective<\/em> 2.1.2 mandates: \u201cEstablishment and assurance of a quality national education system that trains people to learn continuously throughout their lives, fosters human development and a gradual implementation of responsible citizenship within the framework of moral values \u200b\u200band ethical principles consistent with sustainable development and gender equity.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The struggle for the 4% of the GDP for education and the signing of the Political and Social Commitment<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n

https:\/\/educaciondigna.com\/2011\/09\/07\/compromiso-politico-y-social-por-la-educacion\/<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

In 2010, Dominican civil society launched a campaign to claim 4% of the country\u2019s GDP for pre-university education (from a very low starting point, which was around 2%). It was a novel popular movement focused on the defense of the right to a decent education, through demonstrations, and educational and cultural activities that took place throughout the country. In the end, the signing of the Political and Social Commitment for Education was achieved, in which all presidential candidates pledged to meet the 4% target.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Consolidation of the 4% (2012-2016)<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Fifteen years after its enactment, the foundations have been laid so that the provision established in the General Education Act 66-97 is complied with: to devote 4% of GDP to education. At this moment (in 2012) it became urgent to plan how to use the ample growth of the resources allocated for the education system. In this context, the Dominican Initiative for Quality Education, IDEC, was born as a 4-year planning model, coinciding with the new government administration.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Dominican Initiative for Quality Education (IDEC) <\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n

www.idec.edu.do<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

The IDEC (for its Spanish acronym) was born as a space for dialogue and consultation between the various key players involved in education in the Dominican Republic. This initiative defined 10 educational policies (working groups 1 to 10), 30 priorities and 87 actions. In addition, it created a system of monitoring and evaluation to ensure compliance with these commitments.<\/p>\n

Representatives from civil society organizations, the private sector, the public sector, along with a variety of experts and international agencies were organized into thematic working groups. The working groups were made of 300 experts from the various sectors, who participated on a voluntary basis in this process. Each working group was responsible for a specific problem, and presented both assessments and possible solutions. Based on the agreements established by each working group, a detailed plan was drawn up, including measures, timing, indicators and responsible parties.<\/p>\n

The 10 working groups were:<\/p>\n

Working group 1<\/strong>: Curriculum development, knowledge management and quality assessment.<\/p>\n

Working group 2<\/strong>: Development of the teaching career.<\/p>\n

Working group 3<\/strong>: Compliance with the school calendar and school schedule.<\/p>\n

Working group 4<\/strong>: Comprehensive services in Early Childhood Education.<\/p>\n

Working group 5<\/strong>: Improvement of Primary Education: first levels and internal efficiency.<\/p>\n

Working group 6<\/strong>: Coverage and quality of Secondary School and Technical and Vocational Education.<\/p>\n

Working group 7<\/strong>: Literacy and Primary Education for youths and adults.<\/p>\n

Working group 8<\/strong>: School infrastructure.<\/p>\n

Working group 9<\/strong>: Support to students in vulnerable conditions.<\/p>\n

Working group 10<\/strong>: Institutional modernization and school administration.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Among the major challenges of the 2012-2016 educational policy, which are reflected in IDEC\u2019s background document, are:<\/p>\n