Nurys González Durán outlines a roadmap to strengthen teacher training at Isfodosu

Santo Domingo.- Dr. Nurys González Durán, the first rector of the Instituto Superior de Formación Docente Salomé Ureña (Isfodosu) elected by public competition, completed her first term and sketched a program of institutional consolidation and pedagogical reform. In an interview with Diario Libre, she summarized achievements to date and set out priorities for the months ahead.

Admissions, standards and professional pathways

González Durán told Diario Libre that Isfodosu remains among the nation’s strongest institutions for preparing future teachers, citing roughly 3,300 undergraduate students enrolled in the previous period and steady efforts to raise admission capacity without lowering selection standards. She explained that the new PACE entrance exam produced higher pass rates than the older PAA, though statistical analysis showed only a modest difference in overall rigor; the university will continue to monitor results and consider adjustments if needed.

The rector emphasized the introduction of a formal career path for teaching staff as a major institutional advance. She said a first public call for faculty competitions in language and mathematics will take place before year’s end, with subsequent calls planned across other disciplines to build a dedicated, full-time teaching corps for Isfodosu.

Curriculum, practices and sustainability

González Durán outlined curricular reforms that pivot on a newly defined educational model and a strengthened practice system: six competence blocks and 19 supervised teaching practices designed to prepare students progressively for classroom work. As part of that effort, Isfodosu has compiled instructional materials and produced a series of 26 training videos that the rector said will be made publicly available to support teacher preparation across institutions.

On STEM instruction, she argued for a concrete-to-abstract approach in early grades and defended integrated STEM as a means to keep mathematics connected to other subjects. Regarding technology, González Durán acknowledged the potential of new tools, including artificial intelligence, but insisted that core pedagogical principles and learning quality must remain paramount.

Sustainability entered the conversation as a practical concern: under the Campus Verde initiative, Isfodosu completed a waste audit that found 86 percent of campus solid waste to be biodegradable and has begun implementing energy-saving and waste-management measures, with composting and institutional partnerships among the options under review.

Looking ahead, González Durán affirmed that preparations for the coming school year are under way and expressed confidence that recent calls to preselected candidates will fill teaching vacancies. She reiterated Isfodosu’s dual aim: preserve high standards while expanding access through leveling courses and support programs so more candidates can meet the institution’s requirements.