Mario Arreola Moraga

GCU 114

Diane Godfrey

27 October 2020

Education in the Dominican Republic

Education in the dominican republic is known as one of the most underperforming

education systems in the world. The education system in the Dominican Republic is facing many

issues ranging from overcrowded classrooms to underpaid educators. The education system is

also lacking funding, by law it mandates that four percent of the GDP must be spent on education

but only two percent of the GDP is invested in education in the Dominican Republic. The

Dominican Republic has struggled with education for many years now, to a point where the

people of the country have made every presidential candidate promise to invest in education.

Young students in the Dominican republic are first required by law to attend basic

primary schooling which includes grades 1st to 8th for 8 years for ages 6 to 14 years of age.

After completing primary school, students are able to attend Secondary school but it is not

compulsory so students are able to choose whether or not to further their education. It is reported

that about 40 percent of Dominican students dropout of school before the eighth grade. Since

education is only compulsory until the age of 14, only about 10 percent of students go on to

graduate from secondary school (​Scholaro Pro​). But even though many students do not continue

with their education beyond the eighth grade, the literacy rate of the Dominican republic is about

92 percent. Many young people in the Dominican Republic who choose to receive higher

education such as university are often at a sixth grade reading level. There are plenty alternatives

to the public school system which includes sending children to private school which is becoming
more popular, even with lower socioeconomic households, who are willing to spend money to

provide their children with a quality education (​Just Landed​).

Under funding of education has been strongly affecting the way students and teachers are

able to succeed. Teachers in the dominican republic are paid very little, instructors are unable to

earn a living in order to support themselves or their families. Because teachers are unable to

make a decent living, schools are short on teachers, meaning that classrooms are overcrowded

with students. When classrooms become overcrowded, teachers are unable to meet with students

and give them the individualized attention they need in order to build relationships and trust with

their students (​The Borgen Project​). Much of the material and curriculum is outdated, living

students with information that is no longer relevant in the real world and teachers unable to teach

current relevant material without going into their own pockets to provide it. For example, math

teachers in the D.R only understood 42 percent of the material they were supposed to teach

(​Made for Minds​).

Even though education in the dominican republic has been severely underfunded, there

are current steps being taken to increase funding for the education system. Thousands of

classrooms planned to be built in order to create more space for students and hopefully more

educators to fill that room. The country plans on spending almost 2 billion euros in order to

achieve the goal of better education for the country. The country is also extending the school day

to eight hours instead of the original five (​Made for Minds​). With these steps in mind they hope

to provide students with better quality education and more space for learning.

The Dominican republic is behind in education because it is unable to pay teachers a

livable wage. Educators in the country cannot even afford basic needs such as a house, car,

internet and so much more (​Made for Minds​). While the country is funding more into education
for new buildings and classrooms, there isn’t anyone willing to step foot in those new buildings

because of the wages. Teacher salary needs to increase in order to bring in new educators full

time who are experienced in their field and are able to provide students with a quality education.
 Sources

Education System in the Dominican Republic. (2017). Retrieved October 29, 2020, from

https://www.scholaro.com/pro/Countries/Dominican-Republic/Education-System

Lipp, C. (2020, May 25). Education in the Dominican Republic: A Caribbean Nation. Retrieved

October 29, 2020, from ​https://borgenproject.org/education-in-the-dominican-republic/

Manning, K. (2014). Dominican Republic revamps failing education system: DW: 12.05.2014.

Retrieved October 29, 2020, from

https://www.dw.com/en/dominican-republic-revamps-failing-education-system/a-176251

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Woods, L. (2014, November 19). Retrieved October 29, 2020, from

https://www.justlanded.com/english/Dominican-Republic/Dominican-Republic-Guide/Ed

ucation/Overview