Santo Domingo.- Hundreds of people are converging and chanting in front of Congress to demand “4%” of the GDP for education and a higher budget for the Santo Domingo State University UASD.
Among the demonstrators figure teachers and UASD professors, who request more money for the university, where a lack of funds has unleashed an unprecedented crisis, with classes stalled since late last week.
The protests for a higher allocation for the education center have spread nationwide, and the number of its participants also grows.
Written by: generoso, 6 Oct 2011 1:20 PM
From: United States, Quisqueya
I agree with more than 4% to be invested in education and maybe upwards of 10%, and I hate to rain on this parade, but:
Aren't we missing the point here?
What's the use to providing 4% for education when the governments are corrupt, and will just misuse and misspend those moneys?
All this trendy hyper and focus, is being misdirected and used as a distraction from the real problems affecting the DR: Impunity, lack of transparency and rampant corruption at all levels.
Written by: juanb, 6 Oct 2011 1:20 PM
From: Dominican Republic
Why doesn't the government tell us the truth?
After the Jeepetas there is no money left for education.
From: Dominican Republic, I dislike all politicians and their afiliated parties... "I simply say it AS IT IS!!"
The country needs 100% increase in Education. Why?
Well, the main problem lies at home. When one's parents are total inept and uneducated what one would expect the kids to be? Albert Einstein, I don't think so. Most likely, human beings intellectual development is based on environment. If your parents spent most of their time drinking, gambling, trash talking, partying, and gossiping. What do you think the kind of children they'll produce and provide to society? Remember, the fruit does not fall far from the tree. As a result, you get DR.
See, Gov. would need to go house by house and qualify, ponder each household and figure how to educate the entire family if needed. Then, kids would have the best base in the world. HOME. This is the angular stone that sparks everything. If one's parents are nothing must likely - children will be nothing.
So, the problem lies way beneath the visual reality, therefore the problem is a long lasting one. 4% won't fix it-A BIG GLOBAL REFORM WILL
Written by: Atabey, 6 Oct 2011 3:24 PM
From: United States, NYC
These marches are necessary! They provide one important pillar to prod the forces of darkness and malfeasance back into the cave or at least the shadows. But outside help is also needed to provide support and encouragement to the movement. I agree that just throwing money at the problem will not undo the harm and take care of such a massive problem as education in the DR. However, schools, teacher preparation and administrative competence will not come cheaply. So more resources will be needed.
As for educating the parents and the grown ups, here the government and private interests would be wise to ponder programs in night sessions? Or small community settings to address the utter lack of parental guidance and so corrected many bad practices taking place in the society at large. Again, this will not come overnight and will need a lot of administrative talent and coordination.
From: Dominican Republic, Cabrera
Whilst there is much in what JPDTrinity says money is needed first and foremost to provide sufficient schools and teachers to enable children to have a full day in class and a quality education neither of which is available at the present.
Once these facilities are in place then action can be taken to ensure parents send their children to school. I see all to often children who should be in school at home and when asked why the parents say "well they don't learn anything in school so why bother sending them"
And yes adult education programs are also a good idea but here again funding, a place to hold classes and educators with the necessary skills to teach adults rather than children would be needed. Hence the need for more funding first to provide the necessary facilities.
From: United States
JPDTrinity, See, Gov. would need to go house by house and qualify, ponder each household and figure how to educate the entire family if needed.
hahaha, add abuelita to the education, certainly she's interested in knowing molecular structure. This is one of the most ludicrous statements I've read yet. So let me wrap my brain around this. There are thousands of students that are already registered to attended class and make progress but can't because of lack of funds. So your solution is to forget the marches protesting the same lack of funds so that they can educate Tia, Tio, Abuela and Abuelo as well? Did I get this right? With the same money? So they can do.......
Education is only an opportunity and every new generation should have this opportunity to move along a little further.
From: United States
PDTrinity,"..........A BIG GLOBAL REFORM WILL"
BTW, we're not talking about kindergarden students, they are referring to University students. Also if your suggestion is to be taken seriously, how does one organize this "BIG GLOBAL REFORM" you speak of if not by the Arab Spring protests and the Wall Street Protests. Change start at the bottom you're right, but not at home, it starts collectively by the same people being affected. Unlike the protest for more electricity in some neighborhoods or raise in taxi rates. This issue of education is the way for the country to raise it's standard of intelligence and knowledge. Just look to India as an example, 20 years ago it was considered a Third World Country by many and now it's the growing center of Technology and taking hundreds of thousands of jobs from the U.S. mainland.
Written by: okian, 7 Oct 2011 10:01 AM
From: United States
Love it! Keep it going. This issue shows how removed the government is from what the majority of the people actually want, and need.
Written by: RonEvane, 8 Oct 2011 7:37 AM
From: United States, Gaithersburg, Maryland
Totally agree with all posters except the part about NOT educating parents. It's not that they'll have to go back to school again and be forced to learn "molecular structure". It has everything to do with teaching parents the value of a good education. A good percentage in DR don't seem to care whether their children are in school or not. That needs to change and it starts at home with parents that care about their children's future and potential educational level.
Teachers teach a curriculum, parents teach values, attitude toward life, morals character and conduct. These two influences need to merge and synchronize their efforts to produce an able and productive citizen. There is no other way.
From: Dominican Republic, I dislike all politicians and their afiliated parties... "I simply say it AS IT IS!!"
richardalberto,
Your construing of my suggestion is not accurate, however RonEvane is right on.
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I agree with more than 4% to be invested in education and maybe upwards of 10%, and I hate to rain on this parade, but:
Aren't we missing the point here?
What's the use to providing 4% for education when the governments are corrupt, and will just misuse and misspend those moneys?
All this trendy hyper and focus, is being misdirected and used as a distraction from the real problems affecting the DR: Impunity, lack of transparency and rampant corruption at all levels.
After the Jeepetas there is no money left for education.
Well, the main problem lies at home. When one's parents are total inept and uneducated what one would expect the kids to be? Albert Einstein, I don't think so. Most likely, human beings intellectual development is based on environment. If your parents spent most of their time drinking, gambling, trash talking, partying, and gossiping. What do you think the kind of children they'll produce and provide to society? Remember, the fruit does not fall far from the tree. As a result, you get DR.
See, Gov. would need to go house by house and qualify, ponder each household and figure how to educate the entire family if needed. Then, kids would have the best base in the world. HOME. This is the angular stone that sparks everything. If one's parents are nothing must likely - children will be nothing.
So, the problem lies way beneath the visual reality, therefore the problem is a long lasting one. 4% won't fix it-A BIG GLOBAL REFORM WILL
As for educating the parents and the grown ups, here the government and private interests would be wise to ponder programs in night sessions? Or small community settings to address the utter lack of parental guidance and so corrected many bad practices taking place in the society at large. Again, this will not come overnight and will need a lot of administrative talent and coordination.
Once these facilities are in place then action can be taken to ensure parents send their children to school. I see all to often children who should be in school at home and when asked why the parents say "well they don't learn anything in school so why bother sending them"
And yes adult education programs are also a good idea but here again funding, a place to hold classes and educators with the necessary skills to teach adults rather than children would be needed. Hence the need for more funding first to provide the necessary facilities.
hahaha, add abuelita to the education, certainly she's interested in knowing molecular structure. This is one of the most ludicrous statements I've read yet. So let me wrap my brain around this. There are thousands of students that are already registered to attended class and make progress but can't because of lack of funds. So your solution is to forget the marches protesting the same lack of funds so that they can educate Tia, Tio, Abuela and Abuelo as well? Did I get this right? With the same money? So they can do.......
Education is only an opportunity and every new generation should have this opportunity to move along a little further.
BTW, we're not talking about kindergarden students, they are referring to University students. Also if your suggestion is to be taken seriously, how does one organize this "BIG GLOBAL REFORM" you speak of if not by the Arab Spring protests and the Wall Street Protests. Change start at the bottom you're right, but not at home, it starts collectively by the same people being affected. Unlike the protest for more electricity in some neighborhoods or raise in taxi rates. This issue of education is the way for the country to raise it's standard of intelligence and knowledge. Just look to India as an example, 20 years ago it was considered a Third World Country by many and now it's the growing center of Technology and taking hundreds of thousands of jobs from the U.S. mainland.
Totally agree with all posters except the part about NOT educating parents. It's not that they'll have to go back to school again and be forced to learn "molecular structure". It has everything to do with teaching parents the value of a good education. A good percentage in DR don't seem to care whether their children are in school or not. That needs to change and it starts at home with parents that care about their children's future and potential educational level.
Teachers teach a curriculum, parents teach values, attitude toward life, morals character and conduct. These two influences need to merge and synchronize their efforts to produce an able and productive citizen. There is no other way.
Your construing of my suggestion is not accurate, however RonEvane is right on.