If this is good performance, I would hate to see bad performance.

We don't want education METROS are our priority, right Lie-onel Fernandez!

I have been saying that the education situation here is not all bad and it seems like others agree also and I am sure the European Union would not hand money to the education department if they thought it would be wasted .So maybe those people who like to paint this country black all the time and give the world an impression that it is totally corrupt and inept will change tune and give credit where credit is due .Today is the first day back to school for many children and it was a pleasure to see them all neat and tidy and all very very enthusiastic to return .

Our gratitude to the European Union, lets hope the youngster going to school now are told about this contribution to their education by the EU.

What improvement? They can even get the kids to come to school!

Slow start at public schools

Yesterday was the first day of the 2009-2010 school year, but as has been the case for decades in the DR, few students showed up at public schools for the first day of class. This cultural phenomenon flies in the face of a new Education initiative that looks to guarantee 1,000 hours of classroom work for each student. This cultural phenomenon is so widespread that in January, at the start of the second half of the 2008-2009 school year, Education Minister Melanio Paredes said on average Dominican public school students only attended school for five days during January.

Source DR1

I agree, but the problem really stems from the need for 12 year old kids working to support the family. Seeing the schools almost on a daily basis, youth attendance is fine...free daycare, so to speak! But for those over 10, the pressures of life catch up.

I support a school that is for those who really cannot afford anything...cannot afford the uniforms, supplies and other things that come with the education system here.

it is great to see kids like Onely and Peter, who are at the age of 10, taking a leadership roll in the school, with the support of thier families, instead of pushing them out to shine shoes and wash windshields.

One girl, Juliana 15 years old, a student in the afternoons...student teacher in the morning, has returned to Haiti (born here in the DR) to start her own school...15 students! Good for her!!!

Like it or not, education is the future of this country and any support, properly allocated will make a difference on the island!

Now here is an overachiever!

Student extradited

The Supreme Court has agreed to extradite, to the US, Dominican student Ruddy Perez Espinal. Espinal is accused of committing bank fraud with cloned credit cards during his stay as an exchange student in the US. As part of the extradition agreement, which was submitted through the US Embassy in Santo Domingo, all assets owned by Perez or under his name will be provisionally seized.

He has bright future as a PLD Minister, of lets say, Finance!

Source DR1

First and foremost as a Dominican I would like to extend my gratitude to the European Union for assisting us and understanding that through education we can grow and prosper.

To answer Richardolito, many nations across Latin America suffer from corruption and poor conditions, what I have come to notice over the years is that Dominicans are willing to constantly trash their country. Many Dominicans believe things should be handed to them, and want everything easy, I say work for what you want, represent your nation proudly and stop trying to put it down constantly. A friend of mine once stated no Dominican works as a manager in any corporation in DR, how true is that? Is there corruption, yes, in every country corruption exist.

What we as Dominicans have to do, is stop trashing the Dominican Republic, start educating ourselves and our children, stop trying to show off, and work together to find better ways to elevate our nation.

All remember best not to encourage the Hipolito Mejia fan josean,. His comments are simple attempts to constantly put down Dominican people and the Dominican Republic.

Miacol, Josean does not know anything about objectivism because he was home-schooled

It would help and go a long way, if all 9.5M Euros get to the needed areas, but that is doubtful, given past History/record. Everyone is aware that Melanio Paredes had a private evelvator installed, from the ground floor of the Sec, de Ed. building, directly into his office on the second floor. With leadership like that, it is no wonder people talk trash about Dominican Politicos. Can you really blame them? Maybe Melanio will install an auto evelvator as well, in order to take his expensive SUV into his office. He will get part of the 9.5 million Euros, will he not?

Looking at the photo here, it appears that most of the kids in this class room are Haitians or some very dark Dominicans.

Juango,

As Jack Nicholson would say, Miacol and antonio1 can't handle the truth.

It is possible that Josean and his multiple usernames are only trying to be a loathsome irritant on this site, with outwardly intelligent comments?

Miacol ,,thank you for writing that good piece ,,it is so correct that Dominicans , especially those living overseas like to trash their country and I wonder if Josean actually knows anything about the DR today ..yesterday was the official administrative opening day but actually today was the first day for most students although in some schools they are starting later and Punta Cana Mike is 100% correct when he says that education is the future of the DR and every bit of help counts ..so many people here , especially non Dominicans living here now, help to improve the education and the standard of living for the poorer children and their families.

Ricardolito,

I know enough about DR not to believe anything the government says!

Ricardito Is a multi usernames individual that post so much and so often anti- Dominican defamation that sometime will go without a rebuttal, the policies makers in the US, Canada and EU (no hablo español guys) will see it and make their decision base on that....an DT is their avenues.

Marcol,

You make some good points above: "First and foremost as a Dominican I.... grow and prosper.

To answer Richardolito, many nations ...... in every country corruption exist.

What we as Dominicans have to do, is stop trashing the Dominican Republic, start educating ourselves and our children, stop trying to show off, and work together to find better ways to elevate our nation."

I concur with taking the "bull by the horns" when it come to education, and becoming empowered and educated to make a better future and country. I lived through the 1965 revolution, and that's exactly what I remember people doing. We weren't crying or asking for more "hand me downs". Parents saw a need, and those best fit to educate did the educating, and we all benefited from it.

No one is trashing DR and I myself am very nationalistic, but sometimes the media distorts the truth. It is my understanding from personal sources that classrooms in the country are extremely overcrowded and that classes are split in two sessions (morning and afternoon) each of which is only about 3 hours long. In addition to that the country occupies some of the last places on the worldwide educational assesment lists. If we want to solve a problem, we first need to admit that it actually exists.

Looking at the photo here, it appears that most of the kids in this class room are Haitians or some very dark Dominicans. Duh= face it same crap

DominicanChic,

"If we want to solve a problem, we first need to admit that it actually exists."


With all due respect to your significant other, I love you for that extemely simple and powerful comment.

I dont want to sound negative, but i tink i see new SUVs on the horizon. I really hope they invest the funds well.