This is what need in DR, institutions that compel our youth to go to school. Otherwise, you'll be thrown to the moat.

What are belial and his children doing there ????

Josean, if you finished your requirements for GED, perhaps you can apply for a slot.

It has taken too long in arriving, The American Educational Scholarship Expo, but at least it's a beginning. I'm sure Josean will find something not to like here. Would love to have all the universities in DR work in partnership with American and European universities. Having American and European professors offer courses in DR, exchanges, training staff programs, etc. Would make a big positive change in how DR's universities operate. However, I see the k-12 grades being the main problem area. The feed systems for the upper levels are producing poorly trained and motivated students. So the bulk of the resources should go into the K-12 grades.

Atabey, exactly the quality in education K-12 is awful, it needs restructuring immediately...

waiting for some idiot to say the c.i.a is involved in this.

Now let see how many young teenagers dominicans would be present at this fair.

Everybody but those who really need them will be awarded!

"..........scholarships are unlimited and the program is open to all Dominicans "

What do they mean by "all Dominicans"? My grandmother is retired on social security a Dominican born, naturalized US citizen, has been taking ESOL at the local High School but is almost done, with years of experience as stich operator at a factory in the garment district, wants to complete a MA in Art History or Agricultural Science, makes one mean plate of "arroz y abichuela" prefers either Harvard/MIT and wishes to apply for the scholarship, do you think she will get it? Her 2nd choice is ITT tech institute or a nice career college with hands on training in advance automotive engineering technology, third choice is massage therapy, final option is to join the US arm forces perhaps the Navy or the Marines, and one last question do you need a GED for that? Can she use life experience and/or empirical knowledge as credit towards a degree. If all else fails, she wants to take up sky diving.

Call and check out the requirements. It may be that Dominicans living in the states also can apply for this program. Also, since US scholarships have traditionally been given to upper class Dominicans, this is a call to all sectors of the Dominican society. It is possible Guillermone to be born poor in DR and having the good fortune of someone taking care that the youngster developed their intellectual talents, be in a position to compete for this privilege. While I'll agree that the upper classes have a much higher probability to compete, it's not completely so.

Esto no es para el hijo morenito del machetero Juan Ramón,

Pero para el niño blanquito “lindo” de Alejandro Grullón!

Josean- Very true, I have seen it happen, so many times over and over again, upper middle class Dominicans, particularly the sons and daughters of politicians or people with conections in government, people who probably can afford it in the first, end up getting fully paid scholarship to foreign universities. Then you hear them brag about their kids "está estudiando en el extranjero."
Yet, the most needy end up losing out. Sad, but true how pathetic.

I've had this conversation with a group of Dominicans friends of mine and they told me exactly what you just stated. In fact, in their cases, they ended up in the Soviet Union during the 1970s. When I asked why hadn't they applied for the USA, they expressed surprise and said, "Oye esas becas que EEUU otorga son para los hijos de bien no para los pobres." However, that was then and now in 2010 I think things are somewhat different, and the US State Department is very aware that the aid needs to be spread out. According to their web-site a concerted effort is underway to reach non-traditional groups left-behind, eg. blacks, native Indigenous groups, women. So if a talented, well prepared, and motivated group of student, decide to compete for these awards, I think they stand a better chance than before.

Are schools notifying students of the scholarship fairs? Will any transportation be provided to those that live far away and are low income?

Probably NO; and almost surely NO!

That would be too fair and logical!

Written by: akdominicanfamily, 21 Apr 2010 4:52 PM
From: United States Virgin Islands
Are schools notifying students of the scholarship fairs? Will any transportation be provided to those that live far away and are low income?

I seriously doubt that no outreach has taken place across the DR, certainly in the larger cities Santo Domingo and Santiago, the information feed is greater than in the hinterlands, but be that as it may, at the college level, I doubt that some level of notice has not been undertaken. Professors are also contacted to access their top students and spread the news.. Let's see what happens during the Expo. I'm hoping for a large turn out. As for transportation for students living far away or of low income, I know of no government program to help these students. But that doesn't necessarily mean that some help will not be forthcoming. As with most things in life, however, self motivation is a rather key component for moving up in this world.

MEANWHILE back in the Real Dominican world LIE-onel Fernandez and his Goons Criminalize Poverty!

Officiasl abusing homeless in the Colonial Zone

http://www.7dias.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=73415

And what does this news have to do with the Education Scholarship Expo?

"And what does this news have to do with the Education Scholarship Expo?"

Probably nothing, but he is trying to make a conection between poverty and education. I guess.

guillermone,

Perhaps its been awhile since you last visited DR, but the site of tens or hundreds of destitute people, some not even Dominicans, impeding the flow of traffic and visitors alike is not what the tour package is about. So, while it may appear heartless for some, removing these roaming bands is necessary for the tourist sector. And Dominicans who want to live their lives without all these beggars roaming about. Or would you rather that people stop coming to the DR? I was recently in the lovely city of Ponce in P R and visited El Parque de Bomba. How sad it looked from the prospective of twenty years time when I visited as a child. Beggars, mostly druggies roaming about with the ever present police officer close by. As with the offensive beggars on the beaches, trying to sell trinkets what-nots, basta, tourist want their peace. Perhaps you don't care and enjoy the company of vast numbers of poor pulling on your pants for money. Most people visiting don't.

Atabey-Your point is well made. I Agree........

Guillermone,

Oye, I have some understanding of the great needs many of our fellow dominicans face on a daily basis. It's not a joke, and truth be told many have a very difficult road ahead. Let's hope that LF, and I'm not saying he is perfect, is able to pull those rabbits out of the hat. If the Haitian situation is not adequately resolved or more likely "managed" probably, our dear DR is in for the worst possible future. As for the link between income and eduction, well everybody understands that. Let's hope that our poor have better outcomes. If you read some of my posts on the economic development of DR it will show you how messed up we as a country were up until, get this 2004-5, our country didn't have a professional financial management scheme! Talk about mismanagement.

Trujillo ran the country as a mafioso, Balaguer as a Caudillo, and the PRD began the transition with all the warts of malfeasance, and the PLD has continued some old bad habits, but and this is important, begun the institutionalization of modernity. Yes, it hasn't all gone smoothly as most would perhaps want, but if you check out the economic studies I mentioned you'll see that there are many important institutional checks and programs being implemented by the government. Of course, all these practices and systems take time to implement and more importantly becoming common in the habits and memories of our people. It's an Herculean task that LF has embarked on and while I don't approve of all his plans, the truth is that we don't have too many other choices; we don't have massive oil reserves or other valuable tradable commodities in world demand to secure our future prosperity as a nation. Check out the articles and tell me what you think. Also visit the DR Education posts.

Here's one link:

http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/wha....ocuments/dom_republic_pefa_en.pdf

Conclusion
Until 2006, the budget of the Dominican Republic has not been a realistic document,
given that budgeted income and expenditure differed considerably from the real values,
with even greater disparities at expenditure broken down by institutions level. These
imbalances took place under regulations (now abolished) which allowed the President to
create new budget assignations in the course of the year for a value of three-quarters of
the surplus in received revenue.There was thus an incentive to underestimate projected
income and expenditure given that, in this manner, a margin of manoeuvre was generated
which allowed more flexibility in planning expenditure, thus avoiding the rigidity of the
budget.

On another front, until 2005 central government institutions accumulated large
expenditure payment arrears, thus distorting the effective application of the budget. Both
the implementation of tax reforms and the positive performance of the economy from the
2005 fiscal year onwards enabled budgets to be drawn up based on realistic foundations,
improving its credibility.

The comprehensiveness of the budget has improved but there still are a number of
deficiencies. The formulation, execution and reporting of the central government budget
are presented in a format that reflects the most important dimensions of the expenditure,
in accordance with international standards. Considerable efforts have been made in recent
years to include all the revenue received and expenditure made by the different public
institutions in the revenue budget and the law on the expenditure of central government.

On another front, although the municipal councils know in advance the percentage of funds
which central government will transfer to them (and can estimate the amount), there are a
number of transfers for specific ends that diminish the transparency of inter-governmental
relations. The municipal councils not only issue quarterly reports but also monthly budget
execution reports to the Office of the Comptroller General, which reviews their revenue
and expenditure accounts.

There still remain a number of central government institutions which receive own funds independently of the State’s budgetary year, but the amount of these funds is decreasing
and does not appear to be very high. The fiscal information relative to loans is quite
comprehensive but it is not always possible to obtain financial reports that can justify the
reception and use of the donations. On another front, central government still does not
supervise the aggregate fiscal risk associated with the non-financial public sector.
The public financial system has substantially improved the level of transparency in recent
years as a result of new legal provisions which guarantee public access to key fiscal and
budget information and a ‘revolutionary’ change in the method of organising financial
information (introduction of the IFMS). However, the budget documentation accessible to
the legislative branch when examining the budget project continues to be insufficient.