Medina's No.1 problem to overcome in the country.

If this doesn't change, nothing will.

And the corrupt political parties and ruling elite, win.

Which is what they want.

Atabey? where are you?

all four subjects? is that the amount of subjects that high school children take? can anyone say what they are?

Leonel is largely responsible for this appalling lack of education.

He should be jailed for this alone.

jasfalon== 3***s

Should have just tested them on the lyrics to songs and how to trick people and i bet the scores would have been 100 percent at all levels.

says jasfalon

Written by: jasfalon, 6 Mar 2013 8:01 AM
From: United States

Leonel is largely responsible for this appalling lack of education.

He should be jailed for this alone.

do not be so harsh on Leonel. he left you the Metro. only thing is, the kids can't read the names of the stations.

I do not believe these figures at all ...I have seen the typed results of all my students that I taught in that year and there was about a 80% pass rate ,,,and in fact every student is either at university or have a good job.. ..and my two schools are for the very poor .. The results I saw comprised more than 30 people .
Now maybe there are problems in the south and in the northeast of the country but not enoughto bring the figure to 3 % ,,,I would like to see the number of applications to all universities this year and I am positive the number would be much much higher than stated here

That has been going on for years.

How about testing the teachers? Maybe that Cuban teacher task force is not such a bad idea after all.

Ricardolito, the testing service for the community college that recently opened in SD reported that 90% of the applicants failed the math segment, and 70% failed spanish. so, even if these figures are not absolutely accurate, they cannot be too far off, and, surely, not an 80% pass rate.

Rico,the Universities are money-printing machines that churn out diplomas for a fee.

I'm sure you have witnessed or heard as many doctor horror stories as I have.

Cracker-jack med licenses..

WalterPolo, i saw an article this week that stated that only 56.9% of professors in the DR have a bachelors degree. as to getting Cubans; darn good idea, since they will not be able to attract any other foreigners with the amount of salary they pay to teachers here.

Ricardolito, the years of neglect of education have caught up with the DR. the chickens have come home to roost. the problem is now a matter of exchange rates. when the peso was 1:1, or 2:1, that was the time to have brought in foreign teachers to train Dominican counterparts. now, at 40:1 and rising, the whole foreign teacher idea is a hopeless idea. without experts from outside, i fail to see how the quality of the local teaching corps can be improved. besides, teachers do not have to teach anything when they can simply charge their students for a passing grade at the end of the year. it is not good.

Dready,

In no way is this news reflective of what conditions might be like 50 years from now!

The educational mess in the DR has a VERY LONG TRACK RECORD THAT EXTENDS TO THE TRUJILLO ERA. All leaders since share responsibility.

You can't keep only blaming the goverment for everything, the students and the parents, there parents and so forth are responsible for this also. If they can learn to play baseball(as they play all day), they can learn to read, write, history and mathematics, ect.

But the last two bums in office did nothing but rape the education system here

Students here are not taught to think. They are taught to do.

so, Atabey, what might conditions be like 50 years from now? give us a few suggestions on how you rectify the current condition.

The Disasters of the 12 Year Robbery of Lie-onel and the PLD are coming Home to Roost in all the basics of the daily Dominican "Quality" of Life!

For starters trim the last leg, the University level fiasco and concentrate on the primary and secondary levels or feeder loops. The tertiary educational system in DR has only nurtured long time residential moochers, it needs to be the providence of the best and the brightest. So a severe cut there with the savings extended to the lower levels, primary and secondary levels needs to take place. Of course, the Private schools can do what they wish, and if the parents want to spend their money on some non-sense degree from the University of X, so be it. I'm concentrating on the public sector educational opportunity environment.


Professors at the University level would need, at least a Master's degree in their subject of instruction and for tenure a PhD in their field.

Community Colleges would have BA's and Master's as first level and tenure level certification requirements.

Looks like the USLESS METRO First, rather than EDUCATION was not such a Bright Idea!

My wife attended school in DR and she said the teachers gave you the answers for the test in advance.....If you say it aint so, you are lying Ricardito....

all nice in theory, but who is going to do the little part known as teaching? where are the teachers going to come from?

it is ok the teachers are on strike, they want more....WHAT ARE WE TO DO WITH THIS ENTITLED SOCIETY

josean, go to the forum and look at the pictures of the library at UASD. Stanford and MIT have nothing over it, not to mention the parking lot. more of Leonel's monuments to egotistical displays. meanwhile, i read a report that the DR has 800,000 registered library books, for a country of close to 10 million people. all this money spent on a building for a university, while the kids cannot count past 5. if things continue like this, 90% of today's kids will just fail the entrance exams to these spectacular looking institutions.

As for teachers from pre-K - 12 grades. Huge problem and just reading what has taken place in Mexico, leaves you truly astounded at the over all dimensions of this Latin American problem.

Teachers getting jobs for life and passing these off to their kin? Yes, incredible as it may sound, these sorts of things ARE common place in many of these countries. It is ONLY recently that Mexico has passed National Legislation to curb the local interest of unionized power that has maintained this ancient and decrepit system in operation.

As for what to do with the DR. I've been on board since posting on DT as favoring having the Cuban teachers come and sending food over to Cuba. How WORST a situation can it possibly be having Cuban teachers in DR teaching basic skills? The alternative is having poorly skilled HS level-if THAT!- "teachers" educating the youth of the land.

I'm not saying that there aren't truly gifted and talented teachers in DR, just TOO few.

says BLANCO

Written by: BLANCO, 6 Mar 2013 10:20 AM
From: Dominican Republic
it is ok the teachers are on strike, they want more....WHAT ARE WE TO DO WITH THIS ENTITLED SOCIETY

have you ever tried feeding a family on 8000 pesos per month? what do you mean by entitled society?

sorry to be the bearer of bad news, Atabey, but Cuba is going through teacher shortages itself. they are all working in other Latin American countries that want to improve their education systems. there are not too many left to go around. so, we might just have missed the bus.

pass rate is only 65% ..I am telling you that the figures in this article are not correct ..well as far as higher level classes are concerned. I have no experience at lower classes so cannot comment there but I have seen the printed results in every subject that my students took and the rate over 65% was very high .
RobertJose,,,I do not know where your wife went to school but in the national exams , the questions and the answers are not given in advance ,,,so you can call me a liar if you want .but I have hundreds of students who will back me up.
As I said ,if the failure rate was so high , why do we need universities ,,,there are thousands and thousands of applicants to the university and they all passed their national exams .This story is seriously flawed

I know that Dready. Perhaps some may come out of Venezuela?

The truly unsaid story behind all this is that back in 1966 !!! the Balaguer Administration was offered a systematic way out of Third World Status and he along with his backers REJECTED the offer.

One FUNDAMENTAL issue to be resolved was the FAILED EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE IN DR !

The American representative stated that for the DR to leave behind its failed educational experience and other poor indicators of Third World Status, IT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO DEVOTE PUBLIC SUMS TO THE TUNE OF 20% of GDP per year.

A National Education initiative was to have played a KEY part in this strategic plan.

This offer and help was rejected by the majority of the Dominican leadership at the time. They were more concerned with dividing up the Trujillo estates among them then thinking strategically how best to develop the over all potential of the country: its people.

They have done well materially since 1966, the people less

not the 1966 Balaguer nonsene again! say it ain't so. i hardly remember the USA making the same offer to Kores.

The saddest article I've read on DT so far and the root of all problems here.

In the US there were laws against teaching slaves to read.


History repeating itself?

Wow! This article explains a lot, despite the challenged accuracy of the stats.

The truth would really help.
DT seems to have lost control of the truth.
I believe what Ricardilito says.
My 2 boys in high school Say the headline here is absurd!
Have an educational Day!
Teachers... get the F&*K back to work please!
Tomas.

Education “policy“ is the Achilles Heel of the PLD Geniuses who after 12 years of their So Called Narco Marco Economic Miracle, in addition to the Horrendous News of 97% to 3% deal Lie-onel Gave to Barrick “Stold,” have exposed them for the Charlatans they Really Are!

This is really a disgrace.

Thank you Leonel Fernandez, for neglecting education as a national priority.

And keeping poor people ignorant, so that you and a small group of thugs,

can take all the benefits.

This has always been a policy of the super rich,

to keep people stupid so they can rule the land.

Let us hope Danilo has a different view on Education for our people.

Education is National Priority.

It is the only way to true development.

Well Dready, it's not non-sense, it's called REALITY.

Every worthy in name nation-state that has ever undertaken to develop its human capital has done so by providing the public means to do so. And in reality a 4-5% of GDP over a significant number of years has pretty much wiped out the legacy of illiteracy and low educational standards. Just check the records for all the nations that underwent the transition from low educational standards to decent/respected or high educational standards. It's not that difficult. But providing the means and setting about the GOAL for achieving such a worthy outcome ARE the contentious parts: taxes have to be dedicated. With NO consensus among the parties, little has been achieved since Trujillo. And the problem has just metastasized over the course of the last 5 decades with the large population expansion.

says Tomas

Written by: Tomas, 6 Mar 2013 11:58 AM
From: Dominican Republic, Cabrera
The truth would really help.
DT seems to have lost control of the truth

DT did not gather the statistics. they merely posted the article, based on information supplied to them. now, if you have your own independent survey which has incontrovertible evidence to the contrary, i am all ears.

Keep them in the dark and keep them uneducated. This is why we are in the situation we are currently in. Funny thing is our elected officials are a direct representation of this as well.

All one needs to do is visit our childrens schools and you can see for yourself why our country is in such bad shape.

Gentlemen:

As much as we all want good paying teachers,we also demand qualify teachers,not

botellas on the payroll so as to cover up unemployment.

Dr dread has a good point a teacher can not live on RD8000 pesos a month or US $200,when the

basic needs are way over this.

We also must understand that we don't need to have the kids attending school for 8 hrs a day ,

when only 4 basic subjects are taught from 1-5th grade..(Math)Arithmetic,(Language) Spanish,

Basic General( Science) ,(Social Studies), National Geography & History. From the 6th-8th grade

a more advance of the same.This is nation wide requirement and you don't have to be a gifted

person from a HS to teach these basic courses nor do you have to keep the teachers and

students locked up for 8 hrs just to be baby sitters.

If you don't learn the covered subjects in 4 hrs the rest is a waist and should be done on your own

as home-work.This was the system back when Balaguer was Ed minister.

Raulm,

Happy to read your comment today, still laughing.

They can sing the songs without missing a word. lol

They can't do word problems but give them some money and tell them to go spend it. Nobody can give them the wrong change. They add and subtract money pretty good!

The same teachers that did a bad job are the same teachers that want a raise. What a joke prove that you are worth a raise

Dreadlocks & others:
Grades 1-8- Eight subjects
High school, grades 9 - 1- Eleven.
Mi Esposa & Ninos seem to think around 60 -80% pass
here in Cabrera.

Atabey:

You have a point ,little has been done since Trujillo's days,thereafter were strugling on how to divide Trujillo's estate among themselves,forgetting education.

Tomas:

Name the subjects taught from 1-8th grade. I say there are 4, you say they are 8. Don't count the subsidiaries of the main 4 as they are stressed as such on the main subject headings.I am talking about subjects presented in public school nation wide,excluding gym, lunch and 2 brakes.

The idea was to have the kids released at noon time so they could have lunch with their families,
instead of hanging around and have the gvt feeding them.Look what happened with the brakfast program resently ,so a few could make money feeding the kids junk,(no nourishments).

I further back up the REGENTS PROGRAM ,i think was wonderfull in Trujillo's days to pass on those that knew the subject matter, instead for the teachers requesting bribery from the students in order to push them on to the next grade.HS is a diferent story since more subjects are taught, but then again split the year into semesters so half the subjects are taught at a time,still 5 the most with F/Languages.

says Tomas

Written by: Tomas, 6 Mar 2013 7:23 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Cabrera
Dreadlocks & others:
Grades 1-8- Eight subjects
High school, grades 9 - 1- Eleven.
Mi Esposa & Ninos seem to think around 60 -80% pass
here in Cabrera.

firstly, i asked you to name the subjects, which you have not. secondly, if you think that the statisticians are wrong, and you are right, then take it up with them. lastly, the most insane thing i have ever heard is that the children think the pass rate is between 60-80 percent. how would the kids know?

when i went to high school in the day of the dinosaur, all high schools in the country had the same syllabus. it was prepared by Cambridge University, and distributed to every school. you had to take at least one additional language, mostly french, or spanish. in your second year, you had to take Latin, for at least 2 years. the final exam was marked in England, so there was no chance of some rich kid getting his daddy to bribe the principal to give his lazy ass son a passing grade, because, to Cambridge, you were just a number. i believe that the subjects ranged from the arts, such as the languages, literature, etc, to the sciences, such as pure maths, applied maths, zoology, botany, chemistry, geography, (physical, regional, and geomorphology), and a few more. you had to succeed on merit, since you were up against the entire British Caribbean, which also had the same syllabus.

That's about right.
I'm an American that has been an educator for 40 years, in the US. I also have been involved in education in RD for almost 30 years. The figures are correct. There's not much learning going on here. Hopefully things will change if Medina focuses on Education in homes and schools.
However, the US is not that much better. Our scores in EVERYTHING are appalling, and this is especially bad when you consider the money that the US puts into it's public education system. High school graduates in America, and this includes A and B students, cannot write adequately, have limited general knowledge, cannot find other countries on a map, including Mexico and Canada, and have no critical thinking abilities. Basically, American kids are morons.
The goal of American parents is to create Olympic and professional athletes. They don't care that their kids can't spell Olympics, or find Greece on a map.
Fame and fortune through sports seems to the priority of people today.

jasfalon, the basic reason why Americans have become morons is that the current generation is only concerned with celebrities, and celebrity. they worship people who have achieved things connected with fame an fortune. they do not necessarily worship people who have achieved meaningful things. they know the names and hit songs of every rapper and singer, and B grade movie star, but have no idea who invented meaningful products.

20 years ago, if you wanted to buy a headphone, you bought a brand with the engineer's name on it. phones like Grado, Koss, or Sennheiser. today, the best selling headphone, IN THE WORLD, is a thing called Beats By Dre, a piece of garbage that sells for twice as much as a really good phone. why is it popular? because it has some rapper's name on it! now even Lady Gaga has a phone named after her, even though she has no idea what is inside a headphone! Americans have lost their way.

The pass percentage for the Grade 8's from our lttle school(19 students) in Jarabacoa last year was 100 percent passed their Spanish, 17 out of 19 passed their math with more than 80% and the other 2 passed at around 70%. No child failed any of the tests. My wife was a invigilator for the math class which included students from 5 private schools in Jarabacoa , including the Catholic one, which is larger than any of the public schools. Students did well on the Spanish, Social Studies, and French tests but performed poorly overall on the math test. I have seen the tests and they are not a cakewalk by any standard.

so where did they get these 220, 000 children from? yes, the ones that they did the figures on?

Dready states
"...teachers do not have to teach anything when they can simply charge their students for a passing grade at the end of the year."

Perhaps that's the best lesson these kids can learn in preparation for living in the Duminincan Republic - "everyone has a price"?

There's was a time in the DR that the education system/teachers cared for their students.

Those days are long, long, long gone.

The sad part is that those days may never come back..

It's not all bad, TinyTim,
The Duminican Republic is in the Guinness Book of Records for reading the Holy Buy-bull non-stop for a number of days.

Dreadlocks:
History, Biology, Geography, Mathematics,Spanish, English, French, Art, Music,Physics & Chemistry in grades 1-8.
History, Biology, Geography, Chemistry, Physics, Spanish, English, Art, Mathematics, Computer Sciences & more.
My boys do talk amongst themselves. You know when you have passed or not.
Mi Esposa has the information through her position.
Happy?
One should assume anyone would post what they believe to be the truth.

I forgot an important one Dread!
Civics & Ethics
Tomas.

one question, Tomas. if they teach english and french in grades 1-8, how come i hardly ever meet people here who can speak a word of english, unless they go to a language school?just askin...

Well, the truth is, as far as all the people I have talked to, they
simply don't like talking English or French.
The teachers are not the best, as you know.
Tomas.

you mean kids in grade 3 get to choose what they take?

Tomas:

!-8th graders subjects...

#1-Civics and Ethics falls under Social Studies+,History,Geography (nat,& world)

Foreign Language English,French ,Latin (not taught in Public elementary school)

#2-National Lamguage ;Castillian 12 years

#3-Maths:Arithmetic,(HS only,One per semester,El.int,adv Algebra,Geom.,Trig,Calculus)

#4-Science:Botany,Anatomy,Zoology( HS only, Biology,Chemistry,Physics),

All these subjects were regulated by the board education nation wide (Regents 6th,8th grade),

These are equivalent to what Dr dread pointed out,you were just a number then.All HS subjects

were regulated by the Regents from Santo Domingo as well at the end of every JUNE,

Dready, after years of learning English in government schools, the local kids in our village can say "good morning, teacher" and that's about it. "Helping" with their English means doing it for them while they play shoot-em-up games (the boys) or chatting about who's boinking who (the girls) on their "smart" phones.

Ah, Dominicans buy for bling. There is no bling factor in education. At least that is what most of them think. When you are brainwashed in believing that the lightness of your skin and how attractive you look predetermines how successful you are going to be, everthing else takes a back seat. Like
education. I once dated this Dominican chick and every time she passed by a mirror, she had to stop and check herself in front of it. Vanity wins with them over everything else.

Tomas:

That is why I said before you don't need any more than 4-5 hrs in a class room per day

and 10 minutes break (recreo) in between to get your energy out and stretch out.

In a big city maybe diferent were extra curriculum were thrown in such as art and computer

science,music.

Still if DR system of education were divided by semesters they would get twice as many subjects

per year in a 4 hrs classes and more specialized techers would be needed out of the( botellas)

pool. Again there is were the family oriented children (home quality comes in, by eating home with

the family and learning quality time)

It's not just the public school. I don't believe that many Sosua International School students or Carol Morgan School students do much better.

And I know that many of the teachers in these schools couldn't pass the tests.

jasfalon, i saw some pictures on the internet of teacher protests for a salary increase. it was hilarious to see some of them holding placards with incorrectly spelled words.

Dready,

As "La Maestra" Case in Mexico demonstrates, Latin America has had a very long history of shortchanging its most vulnerable populations. Few nations have a decent system of education.

Massive nepotism and selling teaching position, low or non-existent standards-not just for the students BUT for the teachers themselves!-has often been the norm across the landscape. With our ever expanding Globalized trading system, all these faults are being exposed as never before.

A huge task indeed getting the massive numbers of poorly educated youth and adults is currently underway across the developing world. Technology will help, but solid early foundations are critical in getting this process moving positively. That's where the dollars need to urgently be spent and very well managed. The University level needs to be cut and only the best gain entry, too many "career students" there.

This issue is educational performance in METROLANDIA not the UNIVERSE!

The obvious fact of structural problems with education worldwide in all nations does not exonerate the fact that he PURPLE geniuses who said they could solve the problem have only made it worse in their 12 Narco years!

They diverted resources away from education in violation of the constitution for 8 years to USELESS Non-Priority projects like METROS and no we are paying the price!

The infrastructure deficits and the educational deficits are NOT mutually exclusive: BOTH CAN AND SHOULD BE TACKLED AT THE SAME TIME.

The ECONOMIC GROWTH of the Nation-State IS the critical engine that provides in the long run for the capacity to invest the sums necessary to meet both crucial GOALS.

However, the Nation-State MUST have CONSENSUS on the GOALS and be willing to INVEST over the long run adequate sums-WELL MANAGED- to fix these deficits.

It's easier to fix a road or construct a bridge, or dam than to educate massive numbers of youngsters.

It will take at least another generation for DR to have a decent positive impact on its educational deficits. And that's if things go well.

says Atabey


The infrastructure deficits and the educational deficits are NOT mutually exclusive: BOTH CAN AND SHOULD BE TACKLED AT THE SAME TIME.


not if there are not enough resources available to do both simultaneously. at that point, if there is an education deficit, it has to be NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.

Or planet!

Well, I guess my hijos were beamed to some other country every morning for school.

"It will take at least another generation for DR to have a decent positive impact on its educational deficits"

That's why the Narco PLD should have started in 1996!

"Education “policy“ is the Achilles Heel of the PLD Geniuses who after 12 years of their So Called Narco Marco Economic Miracle, in addition to the Horrendous News of 97% to 3% deal Lie-onel Gave to Barrick “Stold,” have exposed them for the Charlatans they Really Are!"

dreadlocks:


says Atabey


The infrastructure deficits and the educational deficits are NOT mutually exclusive: BOTH CAN AND SHOULD BE TACKLED AT THE SAME TIME."


not if there are not enough resources available to do both simultaneously. at that point, if there is an education deficit, it has to be NUMBER ONE PRIORITY."


NUMERO UNO IS GROWING THE ECONOMY.

REASON: Everything depends on having a growing economy. More resources will come into the coffers with a growing economy.

Education takes time and the STRESS must be on the Primary and Secondary levels of Education.

That's where the greatest bang for the buck lies.

It's true that there AREN'T enough dollars/pesos to do EVERYTHING at the same time, but with the increase to 4% of GDP for education a good push is underway.

The stats are also good because they EXPOSE the incredible degree of dysfunctional organization and output in the system.


There's only one way: UP (It can't get any worse)

Well, 4% is a dam good start!
At least it's more than Lionel put into Education!

Yes, Thomas.

And the emphasis needs to be on: Primary and Secondary education.

Also, a strong teacher training program with a well thought-out National Curriculum.

The cuts in tertiary education will mean that many "Professors" with Bachelors will now migrate to High School and Middle School levels. Again, a positive as their skill levels will better match the requirements of those lower levels of education.

says Atabey

The cuts in tertiary education will mean that many "Professors" with Bachelors will now migrate to High School and Middle School levels

to work for 10,000 pesos per month. i don't think so.

Atebey, when i was 22 years old, i got a contract to teach high school economics and physical geography. i walked into a car dealership, showed them the contract, and drove out in a brand new car. i had not yet taught a single class. i was provided an apartment at very low cost, with a housekeeper service, plus meals. i was a crazy young kid, and i lived like a party animal on my salary, after paying my car note. today, in the DR, 10,000 pesos would not buy gas for the month. do not expect too many guys who spent years in college to be lining up to work for peanuts. when you throw peanuts, you attract monkeys.

Hey rokiki,
Don't forget you do have an outlet, blame los Haitianos! Don't hold that card too long!Looking back in retrospect; I finally found the answer to my longtime suspicion. During my tenure at several universities in the US, I never had a Dominican classmate, at the undergrad, grad or professional level. Also during some exchanges with many Dominicans via facebook and other social media, I've always wonder why their (DRs) ability to write spanish is so unpleasant. Its all coming to light. Rokiki, my advise to you!! give those millions Boyers who have invaded your eastern seaboard access to educacion, they are furocious in the classrooms. Infuse a dose of decency in the veins of those beautiful Dominicans ladies here in the US; please tell them spreading their legs to every pants dragging-on-the-sidewalk invalids is not a way of life. As a person who share blood on both side of Quisqueya; I hope one day those hermosas will elevate their education value! Sad is an understatement

jamb,

If you Haitian Americans are oh so educated as you put, then what the heck is stopping you people from returning to your homeland and turning it on its head? For all your platitudes about "Haiti Cherie" and stuff, I really can't see you people putting your money (and acts) where your mouth is.

And before you or chilliwest jump on my throat, no attempt (veiled or not) at trolling Doms can get in the way of a what is a very legitimate question, specially since you people have more political clout with the DNC, and political power on the US arena in general, than us Doms will ever have. The fact that you people have failed to make something meaningful for Haiti out of that political power speaks volumes all by itself.

jambdebois

I don't know where you when to college, if you truly did.

Your writing style seems pretty 5 th grade elemental to me.

When was the last time you visited a CUNY university in New York City.

The majority of the students in many of these universities are Dominicans.


I have a Bachelor's in Marketing and a Master in Finance from the late 80's.

If you didn't see me at City College, or NYU school of business,

is because your Haitian black ass, did not qualify, or could not afford it.

says rokete


The majority of the students in many of these universities are Dominicans.

rokete, it is when you make nonsense statements like this that you lose credibility with the readership. of course there are going to be Dominicans at CUNY. it is the city university. there are also Pakistanis, Nigerians, Guyanese, Brazilians, you name it. to say that the majority of students at CUNY are Dominicans is such a ridiculous statement, it does not rise to the level wherein it merits a response.

Rokiki, all I can say is for you to read your last post and i quote: I don't know where you when to college, if you truly did.
Well, boy wonder!! I am a scientist, not an english teacher and never claim writing was my strength!!!
do not need to prove crap to you; I left NY after HS. I wanted to stay away from violent dominicans like you.
Look me up @ South carolina Univ, Nebraska, UMKC Dental School and LSU!!
If you are so interested! Many of my friend went to the then CCNY, now CUNY.
A tetstament, you did not attend that school. During the period you mention, it was CCNY!!

jambdebois, pay rokete no mind. there are over half a million students attending CUNY. to think that the majority of that numbers is Dominican is so ridiculous, it defies the imagination.

Dread,
The boy is a broken record and he has reached the limit of his eloquency a million years ago.
just having fun; love to see him post the same response over and over. Dread, i bet he never heard of Leslie Manigat at CCNY, now CUNY!!!

Dread,
you bring back some memories!! I have recollection of being lock up for two weeks to study for nationally admistered exams both @ primary and secondary levels. In Haiti our old European system was linked to the old Frech system; when I arrived in NY, pre-dinosaur era, school was a big joke to me.
i was the only kid in my class who ever studied latin and greek!!!

Written by: dreadlocks,
says Atabey

The cuts in tertiary education will mean that many "Professors" with Bachelors will now migrate to High School and Middle School levels

to work for 10,000 pesos per month. i don't think so"


The pay scale needs some adjustments, too. You need to pay better salaries, but demand better quality in return. How much are these glorified professors being paid in Colleges?

Would 15-20K per month be a reasonable salary?

Again, the overwhelming emphasis needs to be placed at the earliest grades, K-8.

High School can have classes of 50 students. A teacher with several teaching assistants, students doing their University studies and competent in their field of study NOT EDUCATION!, Math, Science, Spanish, etc., need only apply. Those selected would receive credit towards their eventual job choice, free tuition, perhaps the government could allocate some free passes during off-season in the numerous tourist hot spots in DR, etc.

In other PURPLE Education News!


"Hombre armado asalta escuela SDN"

"Armed Man assaults a school in North Santo Domingo"

"Además, solicitaron al Ministerio de Educación la conclusión de la estructura original de la escuela, ubicada frente a la puerta número cuatro del Parque Nacional del Mirador Norte, la que según dijeron, ha sido abandonada."

We are really Modernizing and Globalizing!

almomento.net/articulo/132049/Hombre-armado-asalta-escuela-SDN

Janderocketscience

As for you mister scientist,

English was not my major either, but it is not 5 th grade writing style.

LOL

Dreadlocks

You are always taking things out of context, to serve your own selfish purposes.

You seem to have overlooked the word (( in many )), deliberately.

On the other hand, you might not see well, because you may be decrepit,

I understand old chap.

says rokete science

Dreadlocks

You are always taking things out of context, to serve your own selfish purposes.

You seem to have overlooked the word (( in many )), deliberately

i read your posting, and nothing was taken out of context. you stated that Dominicans predominate in many of the CUNY institutions. that is not sufficiently complicated a statement to confuse anyone., my response to you is that such an assertion is absolute RUBBISH, since there is no educational institution in the USA that i can think of in which Dominicans are numerically predominant. maybe you can do what adults do, which is to provide facts and statistics to buttress your contention.

Come on now boys, kiss & make up.
The problem to solve here on our beautiful Island is how to educate the next generation.
There is also an urgency to finish educating the current students the best way possible.
The educated world is passing us by.
We have a very, very complicated solution ahead of us!
Arguing amongst ourselves about things that actually mean nothing is just continuing
the problem.
PLEASE act like the educated individuals are! PLEASE!
Tomas.

"The educated world is passing us by."

"We have a very, very complicated solution ahead of us!"


They should have thought of that before WASTING a Billon Plus US dollars on the USELESS Non Priority METRO!

Little late to discuss that, isn't it?
Quality Education, or the lack of it, is the topic.

No they plan to Build more USELESS LINES!

There has been a historic under funding of education in DR.

However, when the 4 percent formula was codified into the constitution we at least had a formal and official acknowledgement of the structural deficiency in funding. So by refusing to abide by the law they only added to that structural deficit to the point we are in now in; a national crisis in education!


"National tests fail 98.6% of all students"


They claimed they had no money to fully fund the constitutionally mandated 4 percent because of the Banking Crisis, however they found the funds for the reelection METRO!

So, although this is obviously a problem of historic dimensions, the fact they had a law and they choice to prioritize resource assignment by diverting them to non-priorities, we only aggravated and further delayed its solution by at least 12 years!

We must never let that FACT go into the Background or it’s Bound to Happen again!

In fact it is still happening as we write!

josean,
In a democracy people get what they want. Duminicans want a metro. They don't want an education since they already know everything. Ever seen one reading a book?

Josean,

You are correct when you write that "there has been a historic under funding of education in DR." But in addition, the quality of our public education has been pretty bad for as longs as I can remember. The under funding is only part of the problem. The other problem, as I see it, is that education in DR needs to evolve. We need to take a look not only at the curriculum but also the teaching methods. Should primary education be modeled after the Montessori schools? Maybe, Middle and High Schools should mimic the "Reforma" school like the UNPHU? More of the will not get us very far...

Haitiano Batellero !!!

Arcangel96,
In the Duminican Republic, in accordance with the Concordat, the Catholic Church has the final word when it comes to the curriculum. Need say more?

Arcangel96,

We must first address the” Social” Curriculum i.e. Respect for the Rule of Law, Transparency and Accountability in public expenditures.

A diminishing of the powers of the imperial presidency so all three branches are coequal partners in the governance and elimination of the cult of personality. So people stop saying “Lie-onel built that” or any other president, but rather the Dominican TAXPAYERS provided the resources for that school, bridge hospital etc.

In addition, as Roy states, we need to IMMEDIATELY suspend the Embarrassing Injurious Concordat with the coddlers of pedophiles and return our National Educational system to Hostos Model!

Then we will begin to move forward!

Josean,

Agree we everything, except this "Concordat" conspiracy theory. I went to school in Dominican Rep. and I have no recollection of any form of Catholic, or religious, teachings at my school. No Intelligent designed, creationism or religion in general. Sip-zero-nada! So how is this "Concordat" affecting the current curriculum of none Catholic schools?

"Concordat" conspiracy theory.


It is not a “theory or conspiracy,” the Concordat is Fact, as is the Control of Catholic Church over Education in DR, awarded to it via that contract with Vatican!

Neither Roy nor I have said it was a “conspiracy” that is you chose of word or interpretation!

Have you ever read it?

"El Concordato Trujillista y sus consecuencias"

Por Argelia Tejada Yangüela

Colegios y universidades católicas.

El artículo XXI garantiza a la Iglesia Católica “la plena libertad de establecer y mantener, bajo la dependencia de la Autoridad eclesiástica, escuelas de cualquier orden y grado. En consideración de la utilidad social que de ellas deriva a la Nación, el Estado las amparará y procurará ayudarlas también mediante congruas subvenciones.”

Éste artículo ha dado lugar al establecimiento de colegios y universidades católicas donde los estudiantes pagan sumas prohibitivas para la población pobre. Niños y niñas de hogares de clases altas y medias estudian en colegios donde el cuerpo docente está mejor pagado y los planteles mejor construidos y equipados, a la vez que el Estado disminuye el presupuesto para la educación pública y los transfiere a colegios y universidades privadas.

argeliatejada.blogspot.com/2010/11/el-concordato-trujillista-y-sus.html#!/2010/11/el

Josean,

The Catholic Church have agreements/treaties with several states that included taxation and recognition. Yes! the "Concordat" are real. However, I don't see the relation between any agreements done in Trujillo's, era for example, and the current state of education in Dominican Rep. The Catholic Church is not in charge of public schools and all private schools are not run by the Catholic Church. Do you see the "red herring"? So again, how is the "Concordat" affecting the current curriculum of public schools and non-Catholic private schools? How do you draw the connection to the failing number of test in this article?

By the way, thanks for the link.

"Estado disminuye el presupuesto para la educación pública y los transfiere a colegios y universidades privadas."

The transfers of PUBLIC FUNDS from PUBLIC EDUCATION to support PRIVATE CATHOLIC Schools that are beyond the means of average Dominicans!


You don't find anything slightly WRONG with that!

josean,

Yes! this agreement, in Trujillo's era, was wrong, like many things from the dictators era. However, I don't think the Dominican Government are still honoring this part of the "concordant". In other words, that monies allocated directly to public education are being transfered to the Catholic schools? Or that somehow this "concordant" is contributing to todays national test failing grades? How? Aren't Catholic schools also failing these tests too?

No inconsistency there, Arcangel96,
The objective in indoctrination not education.

"However, I don't think the Dominican Government are still honoring this part of the "concordant".

You "think," but you don't know!

Yes it is !

Josean,

Okay. So where is this smoking gun? Where is the proof that the Dominican goverment is taking money out of the public school funding to give them to the Catholic Church? Why haven't we heard the same outcry about this, from the 4% crowd, teachers...anyone? Or from the protestant church? How much money are we talking about? ... This starting to sound to me like one of those X-files. :)

"National tests fail 98.6% of all students "

Here is a 44 Magnum for you!


“The Concordat is an internal cancer that kills the Dominican Republic”

“El Concordato un cáncer interno que mata a la República Dominicana”


“The State subsidizes 100% physical and functional plants of Catholic religious schools, in detriment and damage of public education that, constitutionally, depends on the State. In the same way it covers 100% payment of teaching staff, administrative, cleaning and surveillance of such private religious schools.”

"El Estado subsidia en un 100% las plantas físicas y funcionales de los colegios religiosos católicos, en desmedro y perjuicio de la educación pública que, constitucionalmente, debe recaer sobre el Estado. Del mismo modo cubre en un 100% el pago del personal docente, administrativo, de limpieza y vigilancia de dichos centros religiosos privados."


pacoredo.org/1054/concordato_cancer.html

Josean,

Honestly, you can definitely do much better than this. "Pacoredo"! These are nothing more than allegations...they are not proof of anything. This will not even stand in "Caso Cerrado"... LOL

We also must realize that when the Public University was shut down, due to students or teacher's strikes, and the teachers used to collect their pay ,must of the non-professional students,had to pay dearly. By the professional students I mean those agitators left wing in the late 60th,70th,80th
90th.The same teachers that were teaching in the public University were getting pay good money to teach in the private sector,.The same agitators used to take 3 times longer for completion.
So as you can see the deterioration of the Higher learnings was coming to its climax then and the result we all see it now. No one gave it a darn about the public school system after Trujillo's death.
They were all after Trujillo's estate and how they were going to split it up among themselves .
The CONCORDATO was signed in Trujillo's days and it was no more than a piece of paper that no gvt was obligued to follow thru.

Evey one is blaming the CONCORDATO for DR failure,as typical Dominicans,had to blame some one for their failure.
Why not blame the Board of Education or the Secretary of Education for not doing their jobs and stick to the old system of Centralizing the Education by following the (REGENTS) system,
If the Catholic Church was the beneficiary of the CONCORDATO ,it is not their fault for being at the
right place at the right time and for been so discipline that the Public School System let them get away with it. Where were the so call Parlamentarist ? I know where getting pay for doing nothing as usually and as long as their kids got a good education at the gvt expence,they looked the other way..So lets not blame any one and find excuses for DR falling behind all other LA countries with the exception of Haiti.

"Written by: Arcangel96, 11 Mar 2013 12:24 PM

From: Dominican Republic

Josean,

Honestly, you can definitely do much better than this. "Pacoredo"! These are nothing more than allegations...they are not proof of anything. This will not even stand in "Caso Cerrado"... LOL "


You can JOKE arround about the EDUCATION of our Children but the FACTS are FACTS even if your PURPLE MIND wnats to deny them!

Josean:

What have you to say in respect to my 2 opinions above? Does it make sence?

Josean,

I'm pro-education like everyone else in DR, but come on! Putting the blame on the current state of our education system on an agreement done between the Catholic Church and Trujillo for our current education woes is risible. It is actually a distraction to the real issues. We can argue about the lack of funding (the 4% funding), lack of well trained teachers, low salaries, etc ....and you will find very little disagreement from me. I would even take the whole Metro argument! But this conspiracy theory doesn't do anything in favor of furthering the national conversation of the state of our education system, instead it just diminishes it and turns it into a joke. Like MrThelmoAlmeydaRancier, why not look into the Board of Education or the Secretary of Education for their negligence? How about our current politicians?

The REAL disservice to the future of our children came about in 1966-70, when then President Balaguer and his people didn't take up a serious proposal by the USA to re-articulate the nation's economic foundation via Export Led Development. The same economic model that proved sooooo successful in bringing about the vast positive economic development of South Korea, Taiwan, etc.

An American representative named Salomon suggested to Balaguer and his people that DR needed to change and increase its social investments for Education, and other infrastructure programs. But this would ONLY be possible IF the State committed itself to collecting close to 20% of GDP per year to invest in the development undertaking. BUT, the capitalist class was too immature and was motivated by dividing the spoils of Trujillo!

Balaguer and the gang paid lip service to the offer and DR got to pick some low hanging fruit, while never going after the higher value fruit in the middle and above.

"But this conspiracy theory doesn't do anything in favor of furthering the national conversation of the state of our education system, instead it just diminishes it and turns it into a joke."

Your the one that "diminishes" putting LOL's next to your Sophomoric comments!

No matter how much you want to marginalize the negative role of the 1954 Concordat on Dominican Education and the misdirection of TAX Payers resources to Catholic Church, by your childish references to “conspiracy” it’s an undisputable fact.

Of course there are more problems than the Concordat but it is one of the major ones, by transferring Dominican TAXPAYERS to subsidize the Education of some at the expense of all the others and it is one we can fix immediately by cutting off the funds and directing to the PUBLIC Schools for ALL!

Mr. Rancier,

You know I have the utmost respect for you but there is no Board of Education entity as we have come to know it in DR.

The Minister is usually a useless party hack of whichever current group of thieves happens to be in office. The three most recent ones being the most notables, essentially non-elected worthless politicians. Their Parties interests come before anything else, especially education.

"Like MrThelmoAlmeydaRancier, why not look into the Board of Education or the Secretary of Education for their negligence? How about our current politicians? "

What do you think josean has been doing almost 24/7 for close to 6 years and 24,000 posts!


I think No ONE would say josean is soft on "our current politicians!"

Josean,

The problem with your arguments is that you don't have any proof to back them up. The best that you have come up with, is this rant from a blog site associated with the Communist Party of Dominican Rep. which in short says nothing. Without any proof how do you expect anyone to take these conspiracies seriously. Come on Josean!

Josean,

Quantity does not necessary equals quality my friend!

(I'm joking on this one...chilax...you put it out there)

So, then you disprove the Concordat is not in effect and on what date was it dissolved!

Do you know who Álvaro Arvelo Hijo is?

I've been involved in RD education for almost 30 years. The Concordat has NOTHING to do with the lack of quality education in RD. The education problems here are the same problems that exist in the US, except for money - inadequate curriculum, inadequate teaching methods, inadequate teachers, lack of family priority (sports come FIRST), and inadequate daily and yearly scheduling.

Priorities much change in RD, as they must in the US, if we want our children to be TRULY educated.

"I've been involved in RD education for almost 30 years. The Concordat has NOTHING to do with the lack of quality education in RD."

Pardon the Pun but it is you that has learned Nothing in 30 Years if you make a satement like that!

Josean

You must have been living in the US too long.
You don't know what's going on in your schools.
The education, or lack of it, in private schools like ISA, Sosua and the CM School in SD, is just as bad as in your public schools, and the Concordat does not apply here.
And Catholic school education is just as bad

It ain't the Concordat that's responsible for the lack of education in RD.

"You must have been living in the US too long."


Maybe you have been living in DR too long and have been drinking the Catholic Kool-Aid!

"It ain't the Concordat that's responsible for the lack of education in RD."

I never said it was the "ONLY thing Responsible" as you seem to suggest above and others trired to distort.

This is what I said:

"Of course there are more problems than the Concordat but it is one of the major ones, by transferring Dominican TAXPAYERS to subsidize the Education of some at the expense of all the others and it is one we can fix immediately by cutting off the funds and directing to the PUBLIC Schools for ALL!"

Josean

Nope! I live in both countries, unfortunately, mostly in the US.
And you have the wrong person. The Catholic Church is the largest and sickest capitalist business in the world, but I'm objective when it comes to education, and the Concordat has nothing to do with shitty education in RD.
You're listening to much to RoyStone. His SEETHING hate for the CC is not allowing him to be objective, concerning education in RD.

"I'm objective when it comes to education,"


You contradict your "OBJECTIVITY" when you state such a definitive statement as "the Concordat has NOTHING to do with shitty education in RD."!

Josean,

You wrote, "So, then you disprove the Concordat is not in effect and on what date was it dissolved!"

Is not a question of the Concordant being in effect or not, but what in Trujillo's Concordat (1954) has lead to the current state of our education system. This is the discussion we are having. How do you draw the connection? Cause and effect?

For example, item 2 of ARTICLE XIX in the concordant reads:

"2. The Catholic Religion shall be taught, and its precepts applied, in orphanages, official educational establishments, and correctional establishments for minors."

If we assume that this still takes place, then the burden is to prove that somehow teaching religion has affected the ability of students to learn math and/or literature resulting in the 98% failing grades in the National Test?! Is math different on a Catholic Church than a secular school?

I could care less what a private school religious or secular teaches students if the parents approve! My issue is using secular TAXPAYER Monies to pay for a private religious schools which then charges for the services and pockets them.

Josean,

You wrote,

"I could care less what a private school religious or secular teaches students if the parents approve!"

Really?! you don't care about the quality of education for all our children?! Let me ask you something, can you elaborate on this conspiracy? How does it work? Is the guy sitting in the "Ministerio de Educación" a member of the Knights Templar or some other secret society? How do they manage to keep all this alleged money from the budget? Invisible to the scrutiny of everyone else in the country? Please, give us details. How many Catholic Schools are being built annually? and how it compares to public schools? details...details (Preferably from a reputable source).

Cause without them they are simply speculations....nothing more than conspiracy theories my friend.

Arcangel96,
informs
item 2 of ARTICLE XIX in the concordant reads:

"2. The Catholic Religion shall be taught, and its precepts applied, in orphanages, official educational establishments, and correctional establishments for minors."

Considering Duminican children attend only 20 hours maximum per week at school (without discounting for the many holidays, and when it rains) so time wasted on Catholic indoctrination is at the expense of precious actual education time.

Furthermore Catholicism is based on fear and unquestioning faith, the enemies of clear thinking, science and inquiring minds. Just look at the outcomes - the least religious countries (Japan and Scandinavian countries) are the smartest, and the most religious are the dumbest.

Bielieve or not I have learned lots from those of you for and against the CONCORDATO and its
effect in DR.
The bottom line is that"those politicians" who had their kids in a parrochial school took advantage of the public fundings, directly or indirectly, are the ones to blame,as Josean stated.The last three were useless politicians. I was under the impression that it was been run like when Balaguer was the Secretary of Education under Trujillo in the 50th.There is where the slack lies ! They should appoint educators, as Secretary of Education regardless of the party inclination.Form a good Board of Education represented by all the provinces,with a Professional Civil Service Title,as
the Teachers' Union over here,and escalate by their performances and not by the browny points.

MrThelmoAlmeydaRancier,

Is not that I'm advocating in favor of any part of the "Concordato", I just don't think it has anything to do with the current state of our education system. In other words, the reason behind the low scores on our national tests.

Roy :
Not that I desagree with you on the last statement ,but where in your scale do ypu place AUSTRALIA ? Please don't refer to us as Duminicans even thought we are ,change the u to an O
which is our peopper nationality.
In reference to those 20 hrs per week in a class room is more than enogh. The rest is a waste of time as baby sitters at gvt expense for the parents to pick up their kids after classes.
If you cosider Catholisism as inductrination and brain washing,What do you consider Protestanism?
I was raised a Non Practising Catholic and never attended church ,they used to call me" The MOOR" because I was not babtised untill later on in life like 12 yrs old, was confessed at 27 the first time for my first communion before getting married by both Civil and Catholic to this Colombian Lady,otherwise no marriage.
Untill this days I don't practice any religion,by attending a Temple.I believe religion is in your heart.

Roy,

You need to understand that Arcangel96 is a closeted PLD Supporter, who until recently was a compulsive Clapping Seal for the METRO. After getting spanked so many times trying to defend that USELESS Financial albatross, he thinks he can now score points trying to equate the Catholic Church’s stranglehold on Dominican Education (via the 1954 Concordat) by distorting comments with conspiracy allegations he himself has fabricated.

He also took issue a year or more ago with me point out how low Dominican "Universities" ranked worldwide especially the private and Catholic ones if the even ranked at all!

This style of obfuscation is very typical of PLDers!


However, this Statement from Mr. Rancier is all worth it:

"Bielieve or not I have learned lots from those of you for and against the CONCORDATO and its
effect in DR."

This is what DT is all about learning from each other!

Hummm,

I guess is true that name calling and insults are the last refuge of the out-argued. What a shame. Very disappointed.

"of the out-argued."

Typical PURPLE Statement from those who think they are the only ones who can CONCEPTUALIZE!

It is no mistake 96 is in your name that’s when the PLD Criminals came to power!

Arcangel96:

I am in full agreement with you ! At aleast I learned from Josean's postings and yours and the rest
what the CONCORDATO was all about .I used to hear lots about it in those days but did not know
what it was. I knew it had something to do with Trujillo and the Vatican. To be honest with you I thought it was an agreement whereby the Catholic Church was backing the Dictator. That is how obcure they kept it all.

Mr. Rancier this is for you and All Other OPEN Minded persons since I am sure you know who Álvaro Arvelo Hijo is!


POR ÁLVARO ARVELO HIJO

El Concordato entre la Santa Sede y la República Dominicana fue firmado en Ciudad del Vaticano el 16 de junio de 1954, firmando monseñor Domenico Tardini, Pro-Secretario de Estado para los Asuntos Eclesiásticos Extraordinarios y el generalísimo Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Molina, respectivamente.

Había sido aprobado, por parte de la República Dominicana, por resolución número 3874 del Congreso Nacional, y ratificado el 6 de agosto del citado año de 1954.

El dictador dominicano también se reunió ese año con el dictador español generalísimo Francisco Franco Bahamonde, y en el Vaticano con el Papa de entonces, Pío XII, antes cardenal Eugene Pacelli, a quien el historiador John Cronwell llama “el Papa de Hitler”.

continued:

En esa visita y firma concordatiana el dictador Trujillo estuvo acompañado por el Canciller Joaquín Balaguer, el talentoso político y general enganchado Anselmo Paulino Álvarez, los diplomáticos Nicolás Vega Batlle y Atilano Vicini, su hermano general Pedro Trujillo Molina y los oficiales Arturo Espaillat y Fernando A. Sánchez hijo (Tunti), que llegarían a generales, el primero jefe de los servicios de Inteligencia y el segundo jefe de estado mayor de la Aviación Militar Dominicana (AMD).

El plenipotenciario Trujillo Molina tuvo siempre excelentes relaciones con el alto clero de la Iglesia Católica, salvo excepciones como la del valiente y brillante monseñor Rafael Castellanos; y al final del régimen se produjo el rompimiento por órdenes del Vaticano y ante el incremento de las monstruosidades de la tiranía.

continued:

Mientras con el Papa Pío XII firmó el Cocordato, la dura oposición vaticana la bajó en línea, en el período 1960-1961, el Papa Juan XXIII, diametralmente opuesto al citado Papa Paceli.

Han transcurrido 54 años desde la firma del Concordato, y de nuevo está sobre el tapete la discusión de si debe se eliminado, corregido o promulgado una ley que lo sustituya, y sea más amplia, más laica y más acorde con los tiempos: de mediados del siglo 20 a principio del siglo 21, como lo es el Concordato.

Como poseo copia del Concordato, y lo he estudiado, miren a ver qué les parece, amables lectores, el Artículo I: “La Religión Católica, Apostólica y Romana sigue siendo la de la Nación Dominicana y gozará de los derechos y de las prerrogativas que le corresponden en conformidad con la Ley Divina y el Derecho Canónico”.

continued:

Aparte de lo excluyente, elitista y privilegiante que es, menciona la Ley Divina y el Derecho Canónico, ignorando el contrapeso de la Constitución dominicana, el Derecho Nacional, las leyes adjetivas del país, etc.

Y lean el artículo III: El Estado Dominicano reconoce a la Iglesia Católica el carácter de sociedad perfecta…” Eso no es posible en esta época, ni siquiera a favor de mi Santa Madre Iglesia Católica, Apostólica y Romana. Nada ni nadie es perfecto, porque hasta Dios se equivocó.

En cuanto a las diferentes disposiciones relativas a la condición matrimonio-divorcio, los artículos no pueden se más represivos, obsoletos, absurdos y ya impracticables hasta por los propios católicos.

Y hasta limita la parte religiosa de las Fuerzas Armadas a la exclusividad de la Iglesia Católica, algo tan retrógrado que ya ni se cumple, sin que la propia iglesia proteste.

continued:

Y obliga a que en las escuelas públicas sólo se imparta la doctrina católica, marginando todas las demás religiones; la misma calidad laica y hasta al derecho al ateísmo.

Bueno, creo que es hora de revisar al Concordato, de una manera amplia, democrática, participativa, generosa, respetuosa y moderna.

wordpress.com/2008/11/21/el-concordato-entre-el-vaticano-y-republica-dominicana/

Josean:

Muchas gracias por estos articulos.Los guardare para referencia.

Mr. Rancier,

You might also enjoy reading the full text from where I excerpted this portion:


"Inconstitucionalidad del Concordato"

“El gasto en financiar el proselitismo religioso no se justifica frente al elevado déficit fiscal con que finalizó el 2011, el cual se aproxima a los 60 mil millones de pesos. Tampoco se justifica con el déficit social acumulado por décadas de corrupción y desgobierno que en el presente ha alcanzado notoriedad internacional en áreas, que como Educación, se miden internacionalmente con indicadores estandarizados comparables."

continued:

"Tampoco se justifica mientras las leyes no se cumplen para financiar el Ministerio de Educación y el Poder Judicial, como recientemente 130 jueces nos han dado a conocer. O cuando la población est?á precariamente servida en las áreas de salud y educación; empleo formal con sueldos dignos; seguridad social; servicios de agua, alcantarillado y electricidad; y saneamiento ambiental."

"Mientras tanto, el financiamiento estatal le ha permitido a la Iglesia Católica el crecimiento de su Jerarquía, su fortalecimiento institucional, y su incidencia en todos los rincones del territorio nacional. Según datos presentados en el 2005 por Mons. Ramón Benito de la Rosa y Carpio, en 1953, un año antes de firmarse el Concordato, solamente existía una diócesis en el territorio nacional; para el 2005 el número aumentó a dos arquidiócesis, nueve diócesis territoriales y un obispado castrense."

continued:

"La Jerarquía católica pasó de cinco obispos en 1962 a 20 obispos en el 2005; 14 activos y 6 eméritos. Los datos los ofrece el presidente de la Conferencia Episcopal Dominicana (CED) en presencia del Presidente Fernández y en agradecimiento por la construcción del nuevo local de la CED.”

You can read the rest at:

acento.com.do/index.php/blog/2928/78/Inconstitucionalidad-del-Concordato.html

MrThelmoAlmeydaRancier,

I do not know exactly where Australian education ranks on a world scale. I suspect similar to USA - we have produced some brilliant bio-medical scientists, astronomers, engineers, etc. and some total idiots too.

As far as protestantism, (or more precisely, fundamentalist Evangelism) is concerned, its just as bad if not worse than Catholicism. However both pale into insignificance when compared with Islam.

josean,

You can listen to him (Alvaro Arvelo hijo) speak every day in "El Gobierno de la Mañana" online in z101.com.do from Monday to Friday beginning at 7:00 AM. The entire country can't begin the day without listening to his initial monologue on the first half hour of the program, so popular he and his views are.

Thank you Lautaro!

I listen to him “religiously,” Sorry Roy, every day; even on my cell phone!

It appears he is part of the “conspiracy” also!

I mean really? Not EVEN surprising. Have you been to a DR classroom...? Jesus!

Well, I guess I have met the only good 9 or 10 good
Teachers on the north coast. They were all trying thier best
an having a fair bit of luck with thier students. The schools
were all public Junior schools.

There you have it!
I guess I was lucky! I do realize we have a huge problem with our "Education Sy$tem"
Danilo will fix!
Tomas.

are you a teacher, Tomas? if so, i hope you teach the kids that the correct spelling is THEIR, not THIER.

Tomas;
As a school teacher up North, you must be familiar with Altamira,Imbert,Luperon,Sosua and PP propper.What do you think of its people?
Nothing is fixable unless its people want to."You could take a horse to water but can't make him drink it."
Dominicans were too used to being told how and when to do things.So don't expect miracles.

dreadlocks,
Proves Skitt's law :
"Any post correcting an error in another post will contain at least one error itself,"

"are you a teacher, Tomas? if so, i hope you teach the kids that the correct spelling is THEIR, not THIER."

1) First person pronoun "I" is a capital letter.
2) Sentences start with a capital letter.

(Sorry, Dready, I couldn't resist)

Actually, they are called "typos".
"Error of the fingers moving faster or slower than the brain.
No, I am not a teacher. Not any more.
I Know all of those towns & cities & the people in them.
There is a very bright light at the end of the tunnel.
No, it's not a train coming at us!
1.5 more generations, we'll be OK!
Tomas.

1.5 generations is unrealistic. too many obstacles to overcome

Well, I think this wonderful thing called "The Internet", along with The Iphone
is really helping the illiterate folks on this planet.
Hence the 1.5 generations.
30 years is a hell of a long time these days!

So, for whatever it"s worth, that is my opinion!
Besides, hoping for the best usually works for me!
Have a great day Dread!
Tomas.

says Tomas

Written by: Tomas, 18 Mar 2013 12:04 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Cabrera
Well, I think this wonderful thing called "The Internet", along with The Iphone
is really helping the illiterate folks on this planet.

think so? i did a study last year, regarding internet usage in low income areas. i spent 8 months doing it. went to internet cafes everywhere i could get to. from POP to Samana. know what i found? 96% of the people i saw at a terminal were either on facebook, myspace, in a chat room, or on youtube, listening to reggaeton and dembow. as to the smart phones; what do you think they do with them? practice quadratic equations?

There you have it!
Those 3 sites have info on anything you ever wanted to know about anything.
Yeah, I know, key word....."wanted".
Sorry, I'm a hopless optimist!!
It will happen!
We will reach 80% literacy

oops, hit wrong button!

in 30 years!

Maybe even 15!

literacy is a useless metric. the reason is because it is not a common standard. different countries define literacy differently. the DR defines literacy as the ability to put letters together and sound out a word. some educators refer to that as DECODING. a country like Barbados defines literacy as the ability to sound out a group of words sufficiently well to form a sentence, and to understand what they just read.

Dread,

Lets see if there is any salvation for Sir rokiki? We should be kind and gentle to him. He is thinking 98.6 as in body temperature as oppose to failure rate!! He is thinking 98.6 is in the normal range!!

Literacy= readin', writin' 'n rithmatric.
80%- 20-30 years!

Tomas,Drea,Jambdebois:

You see why we need another Trujillo,to get rid of all these crooket politicians. Close the so call
democratic elected congress which are not but appointed same as those Porvincial Governors and Mayorsand that money employed on what the nation needs such as health, education, infrastructure,electric power,rebuild the sewer system in the Capital which has not been touch since.The sewer system takes priority to the Metro if you don't want to smell like Paris in the1800
and bring about deases like they did. Politicians don't care staring with (Nariz de Fogon),since their stollen loot is in foreign banks. I think LF had more trips abroad than all the previous presidents, to acomplish nothing,just to have vacations paid by the State along with all his friends and wife.
The gvt was the sole ownership of all the public infrastructures then build. I don't see anything being build after.including the electric sector subsidized & rented,Mexican communication.

says Tomas

Written by: Tomas, 20 Mar 2013 4:48 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Cabrera
Literacy= readin', writin' 'n rithmatric.

rithmatic s not literacy. it is numeracy.

whatever