In 2012, the Dominican Republic made a significant advance in the education sector by allocating 4% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to education. This initiative led to the construction of more schools and increased the salaries of teaching staff. However, despite this progress, the quality of education in the country has not improved significantly. This is evident in the low positions that the Dominican Republic has obtained in indicators such as the PISA Tests, but also in the lack of importance that the citizens give to education.
A recent survey conducted by the Gallup firm showed that less than 1.4% of the population considers education a priority. This lack of emphasis on education is a concern for the president of the entity Acción Empresarial por la Educación (Educa), María Waleska Álvarez. According to her, education should be a priority for the entire society, including families, the private sector, civil society, and the public sector.
Álvarez believes that the quality of education is related to the politicization of the educational system. She suggests that education needs to be depoliticized so that changes and transformations can be implemented more easily. She also believes that families play a crucial role in instilling the importance of education at home and demanding it as a right. Families have an obligation to fulfill their duties, but they also have the right to demand quality education for their children.
The implementation of the 4% GDP allocation for education has led to the accumulation of 25,000 million dollars since its inception. This calculation includes education administered by the Ministry of Education, the pre-university system, teacher education and training, and retirement and pensions for teachers. The initiative has also improved the salary conditions of teachers and education officials by 118% in recent years. According to data from the Central Bank, the salary of teachers and education officials is 112% higher than any other average professional in the country.
In conclusion, while the 4% allocation of GDP for education has led to some positive changes in the education sector in the Dominican Republic, there is still a long way to go to improve the quality of education. The lack of importance that the citizens give to education and the politicization of the educational system are some of the challenges that need to be addressed. It is crucial to involve all sectors of society in prioritizing education and ensuring that families demand quality education for their children.