Dominican Republic launches summer training for 124,507 teachers ahead of new school year

Santo Domingo.- The Ministry of Education (MINERD) has kicked off “Innovate and Learn,” a nationwide professional development program running August 4–22 that will involve 124,507 public pre-university teachers across every region, modality and subsystem. The summer sessions aim to prepare educators for the 2025–2026 school year, which begins on August 25, by updating their knowledge of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics), active learning methods and inclusive classroom practices.

MINERD reports that over 8,000 technicians and pedagogical leaders have already undergone intensive training to serve as regional facilitators. These master trainers will deliver contextualized workshops in each district, ensuring consistency with MINERD’s instructional guidelines and the realities of local classrooms.

The program arrives amid longstanding challenges in Dominican education. According to the OECD’s 2022 PISA results, the Dominican Republic ranked near the bottom among participating countries in reading, mathematics and science, highlighting a persistent need for instructional improvement. MINERD Minister Luis Miguel De Camps has emphasized that strengthening teacher competencies represents a cornerstone of the government’s strategy to boost learning outcomes.

MINERD has not yet released detailed budget breakdowns for the initiative, but officials say the program is coordinated by the Vice Ministry of Technical and Pedagogical Services under MINERD’s institutional framework. Teachers can expect follow-up materials and access to online resources after the August sessions conclude, as part of MINERD’s ongoing support for the teaching corps.