Ignorance will end ONLY when we educate our people.

which one of those provinces is Atabey from?

Why do they want to target people in their 80's ? Like if they made it this far without reading and writing, why bother? I think this is one perfect example of what's the use. Unless, the individual has this fervent need to gain basic skills, it best to spend money, time, energy and resources where it will be cost effective. I think at this point in their lives there are other more important things to worry about. Like trying to stay alive.

absolutely, guillermone! it is called priorities. it would be nice to educate them, but resources are limited, and the money it takes to educate an old person could probably educate 3 kids, since old people are far slower learners, and need more time and attention. it looks good on paper, from a symbolic standpoint, but it sure makes very little sense. if you are over 60, and want an education, go pay for it yourself.

Public school buildings, (correct me if I'm wrong), for the most part, sit idled after regular hours.
So, a school building can serve other purposes, as well. It can be used to further educate the adults who want to read and write. Also for community meetings to address local issues. It can also serve as an after-school activity center for kids to play and socialize in, rather than hang out at the corner.
Church folks can also gather for their religious meetings and learn ways to improve on their children's education. Etc...Let's put all our public venues to the best possible use.

I agree with you Guillermo (regarding the 80 somethings) but the sad fact of the matter is that this country has illiteracy and ignorance problems abundant in all ages including teenagers, 20's. 30.s, 40's(you get the picture).

So what Did Lie-onel do for his three horrendous turn at the plate?

Wasn't he the "education" president?

I gotta agree ron they need to get the whole community involed , more after school programs for kids to their there homework , and getting the church involed helps every bit , but again this is not the united states were talking about , this is dominican republic, I think is gonna take some time before we see any progress.

I disagree with all of you who are saying why the people in their 80s or above 60s.

First of all the article says that the targer are people over 15.

Now if people over 60 have signed up and are interested that late in their age to learn, then I say good for them. The probably never had the chance when they were younger.

God bless them all for wanting to better themselves at any age.

Written by: guillermone, 25 Feb 2013 11:10 AM
From: United States
Why do they want to target people in their 80's ? Like if they made it this far without reading and writing, why bother? I think this is one perfect example of what's the use. Unless, the individual has this fervent need to gain basic skills, it best to spend money, time, energy and resources where it will be cost effective. I think at this point in their lives there are other more important things to worry about. Like trying to stay alive.

----------sir, it's never too late to learn.

If they want to learn even if in their 80's, I say "go ahead, thank you and I am proud of you".

I guarantee that an older person will take it more seriously than a kid that all he wants to do is play Video games.

Being old is not a death sentence.

you are missing the point, Tiny Tim. more power to them for wanting to better their lives. and, yes, it is a noble idea. but it costs money to educate a person. taxpayers' money. since resources are in short supply, they have to be utilized to maximize the return. that is a sad reality of countries that do not have unlimited resources. if we had petrodollars, like Saudi Arabia, i would be all for sending even the camels to school. i am over 60, and, at my age, i do not believe that i should deprive a 10 year old of a seat in a classroom. if there are things i need to learn, i pay for them. i spend a lot of money on information gathering, out of my pocket. no government should be saddled with having to pay to further my education, at my age. what return can they expect out of that investment?

Mr dreadlocks, put yourself in their shoes.

You are an educated man, They are not.

What if you were not educated, wouldn't you want to take advantage of said program?.

60 is not that old.

Who's to say that a 60-70 year old can't learn, start a business and be successful?.

Sir, all I am saying is that if there's enough capital to educate an old person, be my guest.

Some of you seem to forget that the Dominican youth of today is not the same as the one from yesteryear, before the Video games, cell phones, I pods and computers came along.

Please don't get me wrong, I want all Dominicans to be educated. Old and young.

asks Tiny Tim

What if you were not educated, wouldn't you want to take advantage of said program?.


the purpose of government should be the allocation of scarce resources in such a way as to maximize returns from investment. government is not there for noble ventures, like educating geriatrics. the expected return is too low. how many more years are they going to be able to contribute, or , live? it would be nice if government had the funds to attempt to educate everyone. that is not realistic. as i say, if a sixty something person wants an education, he or she should be prepared to pay for one. he lived without it this long, and it is not going to make a sufficient change in the well being of the country if he can learn to read a newspaper. an illiterate 80 year old guy will never live long enough to learn enough about business management to start his own enterprise. it cannot happen.

dreadlocks, I know the Dominican Government.

Believe me, the last people/person they want to educate is the Dominican youth.

It's not for their best interest.

You and I can debate this issue until 2050 but the fact of the matter is that (some) old people will take advantage of this opportunity and there's nothing you nor I can say that will change their mind.

Remember the slogan: "a mind is a terrible thing to waste"?.

The slogan doesn't say, "a mind is a terrible thing to waste unless you are old".

great work Danilo:

encourage old folks to learn to read and write by telling them that they'll be able to read the bible without the aid of their priest. that's a huge motivator for them.

Well said, Tiny Tim. Anyone can and, given the opportunity, should learn at any age.

Mr Dread, an empty school building just sits there, unused. Money does not necessarily have to come into play to have this venue available to anyone who needs it. After all, It is ours, we paid for it.
There are folks out there who don't mind educating the aged in any capacity deemed proper and beneficial.
When I get back, I will seek you out and pester you incessantly to tutor the old and young, pro bono.
I will lay the biggest guilt trip you've ever had until you give in and start teaching night classes at the local high school.
Don't think I won't, because I will!

Everyone deserves a chance at education regardless of their age.

I would love to see the day that all Dominicans, are able to read and write.

Then we will all be better off than being illiterate and unproductive.

En Hora Buena !!!

100% literacy rate for all Dominicans !!!

Anyone who gets to 80 and is still illiterate is not serious about their education. Okay, they didn't get it handed to them on a plate. There are many in the same boat who have educated themselves. You need to educate people when the are young. The church knows that very well - that's when they indoctrinate kids.

says RonEvane

Don't think I won't, because I will!

and i will do my part, too. i taught english, pro bono, to two groups, at the same hour my favorite tv show, Judge Judy, was on. i got discouraged when people came for the class on Monday, then did not show up until Thursday. did it for 3 months, and gave up.

Offer beer "pro bono" and they'll be there on time, every time. It's a matter of Dominican priorities.

true words, Roy. i guarantee if i had some big speakers, bachata, beer, and some chicas, the classroom would be filled every day.

Tiny Tim and the rest of you that support this national illiteracy campaign that does not discriminate on the basis of age are correct.

The sad truth is that for MANY GENERATIONS many Dominicans, the majority in some generations, have been deprived of a true national effort to eliminate illiteracy across the nation. The fundamental fact being the very low levels of Central government investments in promoting and sustaining a National Educational effort. With an average under 2% of GDP per year devoted to education, the Dominican Republic over the past 50 years or so has vastly underfunded or invested in its people's educational achievement.

While this current effort is LONG OVERDUE it's SYMBOLISM should NOT be doubted. For it seeks to break that very poor historical effort at ridding DR of this plague of illiteracy. Besides, this is about illiteracy, not some effort at educating for professional careers. Surely, learning how to do the basics should be extended to all.

says Atabey

Tiny Tim and the rest of you that support this national illiteracy campaign that does not discriminate on the basis of age are correct.

sounds authoritative, doesn't it? Atabey says they are correct, so it must be true. only problem is that Atabey understands very little, and knows even less

the reality is that education has to be paid for. people do not learn to read and write without someone teaching them. so, Atabey, who is going to form the corps of instructors? have you ever heard of the fact that children whose parents help them with their homework get lower grades than children who do the work themselves? know why? because in most cases, the parents know less than the kids, and supply them with wrong answers. teaching is a skill, best left to professionals. besides, there is more to literacy than DECODING. putting two letters together, and making a sound, is not literacy.

Roy,

Your own country Australia dedicates close to 5% of GDP for educational investments! Public schools are open to all and attendance and "is compulsory between the ages of five and fifteen to seventeen, depending on the state or territory, and date of birth."


The BIG difference is that the STATE in Australia does function. It's able to carry through its stated policies more often than not; In the DR, the STATE, has been trying to regain its competency and resolve since losing most of its capabilities after the fall of the Trujillo regime. But this is changing with the PLD. Perhaps not as quickly nor as cleanly as many would want to see happen, but it's moving in the right direction. Medina is doing a good job.





Education in Australia

What is the Australian Education System?

Each state government manages the school system within their state. This means that they provide funds and regulation for their schools. Both public schools and private schools exist in each state. The curriculum taught in each state or school may vary but the learning areas are the same in all.

Each state has a Vocational Education and Training (VET) or Technical and Further Education (TAFE) system. VET prepares people for work in a career that does not need a university degree. Each state manages their system and meets at a national level to coordinate their effort. VET is transferable between all states. Study done in one state gains the same status in another state. Typically, a VET/TAFE course takes two years of study.

The national government provides the funding for universities in all the states.





Education in Australia

so, everybody who believes that we should teach everybody in the country to read and write, regardless of age, please supply me with the following information

1...how many people in the country over 50 years of age are illiterate?

2...what is the average time it takes to move a 50 year old person from complete illiteracy to functional literacy?

3..how many additional teachers will it take to undertake a universal literacy program?

4..,what is the pool of instructors that are available to undertake such a project, from a numerical standpoint?

5..how many of those people are capable of teaching such a program, especially to people who have greater difficulty with learning, because of their ages ?

6..what is the composite cost of training people over 50 years of age, in terms of salaries and teaching materials?

7..what is the expected rate of return on the investment needed to fund this project, given the life expectancy of a 50 year old person, and the level of competency he is able to achieve?

it is far more complicated than just saying that literacy is a good thing. it costs money, and there are more pressing education matters, such as training YOUNG people to read and write. beyond that, education has severe problems that have to be addressed first. when a teacher gives out a homework assignment in which students are asked to look for the flag of Africa, adult literacy is the least of the problems. if you get to 60, and you can neither read, nor write, it is not critical anymore.

Kangaroo 101 for IDIOT IRS Atabey!

does everyone see why no discussion in this site can come to anything worthwhile? because we are all discussing the issue of adult literacy, and the merits and demerits thereof. predictably, Atabey has to hijack the thread to show how well he can go to google, and copy and paste.. so, now we get an article from him regarding the Australian education system. can someone put a muzzle on this cretin?

let me make a few observations about basic developmental issues, from government's standpoint.

1...money is not in unlimited supply, so they are charged with the responsibility of optimal resource allocation

2..there is the little matter of opportunity cost. in order to spend money on X, it is often necessary to forego spending on Y. that is called the opportunity cost. so, in order to build a bridge here, government has to forego building a schoolroom there. the true cost of building the bridge is the benefits which are LOST by not building the school. similarly, in order to fund the literacy program, it might be necessary to forego spending on a hospital. since there is not enough to go around, a COST/BENEFIT analysis has to be made to determine which of the two opportunity costs are lower, and undertake the project with the lower opportunity cost.

does what i just said remind you of anything that starts with M, josean?

Dreadlocks

You can answer your own plethora of questions, with your own ambiguous answers.


However, this is the answer to all of your questions:

All human beings have something call ........... DIGNITY

DIGNITY is a term used in moral, ethical, legal, and political discussions to signify that a human being has an innate worth, inherent, inalienable rights, to be valued and to receive ethical treatment.

Education should be a right, not a privilege !!!!

But then again, I could be wrong...........L.O.L..............JAJAJAJAJA

Atabey

Dreadlacks is right about your copy and paste bull shit.

Use you head to think and stimulate your brain cells.

Then bring a well thought out response to the forum.

Just saying !!!!

LOL................JAJAJA

Was under the impression that the present government allocated a lot of money for building more schools/ repairing a few more.
Also heard something to do with contracting Cubans and/or Spaniards to train our teachers.
I presume there's also money available for vocational courses, or at least, an after-school literacy program for those interested.

As we gain momentum with this push for greater literacy, it's possible Medina may increase the funding. So the issue of money may not be as challenging or problematic as we may think it is.
It's clear Medina's govt. Is committed to do what has not been done before. And that is to make it a priority to educate our children, and to train the adults in skills that will get them a job.
This, among many other good things that require little money but a greater effort to accomplish.
This whole education issue isn't as far fetched or unreachable as some of us may think it is!

Dr. Dread the answer wouldn't be USELESS METRO by any chance?

says rokete

All human beings have something call ........... DIGNITY

yes, rokete, i agree with you, to a degree. but there are so many dignified people that i know that cannot either read, or write. then again, i know so many people who can do both, but do not have a shred of dignity.

says josean

Written by: josean, 26 Feb 2013 4:10 PM
From: United States, Fighting the Dictatorship of the Narco PLD Mafia; Guillermo Moreno President 2016


Dr. Dread the answer wouldn't be USELESS METRO by any chance?

what do you think, Mr J?.

In the slavery days of America it was illegal to educate a slave. The reason - "an educated man is a liberated man."

I really don't think the reason why education is poor here is due to money. It's a threat to the ruling class.

says chillinout

I really don't think the reason why education is poor here is due to money. It's a threat to the ruling class.

do not tell that to Atabey. he will start a war with you, and bombard the site with a few hundred copy and paste articles, trying to prove that if the allocation for education increases, education will improve , radically.

“Dr. Dread the answer wouldn't be USELESS METRO by any chance?”

Mr. Josean, there are three things in life you’ll never see the inside of:

A Metro car.
A school room.
A pussy.

The thick wall between you and your utter, indisputable stupidity/ idiocy cannot be demolished.
To your bliss, and our pain.

True, chillinout,
but the same South Carolina Act prohibited the maltreatment of slaves.

Rokete,

Try reading comprehension. If my first posts didn't bring things into prospective, I don't know what could possible top it. The information on Australia was to counter Roy's contention that somehow these elderly Dominicans SHOULD have found the means to get that education BEFORE.


No cigar.

says Atabey

Rokete,

Try reading comprehension. If my first posts didn't bring things into prospective, I don't know what could possible top it. The information on Australia was to counter Roy's contention that somehow these elderly Dominicans SHOULD have found the means to get that education BEFORE.

really? where does it say anything about late life literacy initiatives in Australia? that is what the thread is about, in case it escaped you. too much google, bro. your brain is fried.

How about an article on Education in Antarctica?

josean, the guy does not post to make sense. he posts to argue. on just about every occasion, he does not know sh1t about the subject, but he posts to get attention. he has childhood issues, which he needs to get resolved.