Education reinforces mental health: Student-to-psychologist ratio reduced in public schools
With the goal of transforming the school environment and prioritizing the emotional well-being of the student community, the Ministry of Education has made a strategic decision for the 2026-2027 academic year. The institution has formally instructed to halve the workload of school counselors and psychologists, going from attending to 300 students to only 150 per professional.
This measure seeks to provide more personalized and efficient care, allowing specialized personnel to intervene in a timely manner regarding challenges related to mental health, violence prevention, and the improvement of coexistence in the classroom.
System strengthening and new job opportunities
To make this provision effective, the Ministry of Education has outlined a roadmap focused on the bank of eligible candidates. The strategy contemplates prioritizing the hiring of teachers and behavioral professionals who are already part of this registry, thus accelerating their integration into the national educational system.
- Ratio reduction: From 300 to 150 students per psychologist or counselor.
- Focus: Improvement of school coexistence and comprehensive emotional support.
- Execution: Coordination between the Vice Ministries of Teacher Accreditation and Certification and of Planning and Development.
- Labor impact: Opportunity for job placement for professionals from the eligible pool.
The increase in these professionals will allow for a greater presence in educational centers and will facilitate support not only for students, but also for the entire educational community, creating safer and more harmonious environments for learning.
Ministry of Education
As part of this process, Minister Luis Miguel De Camps has maintained close dialogues with key entities such as the Dominican College of Psychologists (Codopsi) and the Dominican Medical Association (CMD). These working groups seek to articulate inter-institutional efforts that guarantee a comprehensive welfare policy, reaffirming that the Dominican educational system must transcend academic performance to focus on the complete human development of its students.
