Ministry of Education invests RD$474,000 million in teacher welfare and development

Santo Domingo.- The Ministry of Education of the Dominican Republic (Minerd) has invested RD$474,000 million to improve teacher welfare, salaries, and professional development through master’s programs, postgraduate courses, and other training initiatives.

From 2022 to date, RD$287,000 million has been allocated for fixed salaries, including two 10% salary increases for teachers, raising annual spending from RD$83,670 million in 2022 to RD$110,270 million in 2023. Retired teachers have also benefited, with salaries raised to RD$25,000 or RD$30,000, depending on previous earnings. Additional funds were allocated for substitute teacher leave and contributions to the ARS SEMMA health program.

Teacher training remains a priority, with 307,039 scholarships awarded since 2020 through the National Institute for Teacher Training (Inafocam) and the Salomé Ureña Institute. Minerd has spent RD$14,419 million over the past three years on initial and ongoing teacher education, supporting free advanced degrees and professional certifications to enhance teaching quality nationwide.