Educational challenges: 75% of Dominican students do not reach minimum reading levels
A recent analysis contained in the 2026 Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report has raised alarms about the education system in the Dominican Republic. According to the data collected, 75% of students fail to reach minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary school, placing the country in a scenario of significant challenges for local academic development.
The statistics, which take the year 2022 as a reference, reveal that only a quarter of the Dominican student body (25%) meets the basic standards of reading comprehension. This figure positions the nation with the lowest percentage in this specific indicator among the 14 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean that have data available in the report.
Regional context and comparison
When analyzing the results of the region, a considerable gap is observed in comparison with other nations. While the Dominican Republic records 25%, other countries present different figures:
- El Salvador: 28%
- Guatemala: 32%
- Paraguay: 34%
- Panama: 42%
- Argentina: 45%
- Colombia: 49%
- Brazil, Jamaica and Peru: 50%
- Costa Rica and Mexico: 53%
- Uruguay: 59%
- Chile: 66%
It is essential to clarify that these data do not suggest that the country has the lowest-performing education system in the region, but rather reflect a specific measurement of reading proficiency achievement at the end of lower secondary school in the territories with available information.
School trajectory and dropout
The Alofoke Deportes report also highlights a stark contrast between school completion rates and actual learning. While the system maintains a 96% completion rate in primary school and 89% in lower secondary school, learning levels show a worrying disconnect.
Regarding the population outside the education system, the figures are clear: 9% in primary, 12% in lower secondary, and 31% in upper secondary. In absolute terms, this translates to 106,000 primary school-age children, 48,000 in lower secondary, and 244,000 in upper secondary who are currently not attending educational centers.
The gap between completing a school degree and acquiring the necessary skills remains the main obstacle for the system, evidencing that three out of every four students finish their lower secondary education without the literacy tools expected for their level.
