President Abinader approves 10% salary increase for Teachers
Santo Domingo.- The salary increase for teachers has been revised to 10%, up from the previously announced 8%. President Luis Abinader approved an additional 2% increase, which will be applied alongside the initial raise granted by the Ministry of Education (Minerd) last week.
The decision was communicated to Eduardo Hidalgo, president of the ADP, through a letter signed by Minister of Education, Ángel Hernández. In response to requests from the Mediation Commission, the Ombudsman, and other stakeholders, President Abinader agreed to scale up the increase to 10%, effective from June 2024.
President Abinader’s support for the request was emphasized in the letter, which was also addressed to Ombudsman Pablo Ulloa and Enrique De León, former president of the teachers’ union, who lead the mediation commission.
Minister Hernández highlighted President Abinader’s commitment to teachers’ well-being and ensuring compliance with the school calendar. He stressed the importance of providing systematic education of high quality, particularly for the most vulnerable children in the country.
In the letter, Hernández requested Hidalgo to designate ADP members responsible for establishing priorities and timelines for implementing the salary increase.
It is noteworthy that the ADP and its executive committee had previously deemed the Ministry of Education’s initial salary increase decision as insufficient, prompting the reconsideration and subsequent approval of the 10% raise.
The Ministry of Education receives 4% of the country’s GDP.
Wondering? What account(s) in the education budget will funds be transferred to the teacher’s salary account if the 4% education budget is not increased? In other words, where will cuts be made to fund the teacher salaries? Will they be books, supplies, meals, maintenance, and etcetera?
The teachers do need a raise.
As I said last time this topic was reported it would provide greater clarity if teachers wage scales were also published. 10% of what is the question?
Clarity on anything within the country is flimsy.
Election time