Bishop of Santiago laments deficiencies at the start of the school year in the Dominican Republic
The auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Santiago, Andrés Amauri Rosario Henríquez, expressed his deep concern regarding the educational landscape the country is facing at the start of this school year. The clergyman questioned that the teaching process has begun marked by various challenges, among which stand out the protests by the teachers’ union, the lack of spots in schools, and the presence of unfinished school infrastructure.
For the representative of the Catholic Church, it is unacceptable that, while the student population should be fully integrated into their academic work, there are communities where teaching has not been able to start or is provided in environments that lack the minimum conditions necessary for quality learning.
It is regrettable that at the beginning of a school year these situations of lack of classrooms, lack of resources, materials, and structures that are still not finished occur.
Andrés Amauri Rosario Henríquez, auxiliary bishop of Santiago.
Call to action before the Ministry of Education
Faced with this reality, Rosario Henríquez made a direct call to the Ministry of Education to carry out an immediate survey in all regional and educational districts of the country. The objective, according to the bishop, is to precisely identify the centers that present precarious conditions and proceed with urgent solutions before the impact on the student body becomes greater.
The prelate highlighted that the Dominican State has the necessary resources and technical personnel to manage these deficiencies. However, he emphasized that there is a need for greater oversight capacity and a will for effective response to ensure that no child or adolescent is left out of the educational system due to a lack of physical space.
Education as a national priority
The auxiliary bishop stressed that education is a fundamental right that requires priority attention. In his view, the country cannot afford to begin a school year under the uncertainty of families distressed by the lack of spots and the structural insecurity of schools.
- Demand for an urgent survey in school districts.
- Call for the immediate completion of pending school infrastructure.
- Focus on the State’s responsibility toward the future of Dominican society.
- Prioritization of access to education for all youth.
Finally, Rosario Henríquez reiterated that resolving the infrastructure crisis and the lack of classrooms is not just an administrative task, but an ethical commitment to Dominican families, stating that young people need to receive the bread of education in dignified conditions.
