Educational boost in penitentiary centers: more than 9,000 inmates begin the 2026-2027 school year
The General Directorate of Penitentiary and Correctional Services (DGSPC) has marked a milestone in the Dominican prison system by starting the 2026-2027 school year with a historic enrollment of 9,036 students across 37 deprivation of liberty centers. This figure represents a significant growth of 2,519 students compared to the previous academic period, consolidating education as the fundamental pillar of the rehabilitation and social reintegration process.
The inaugural event, held simultaneously across the country, had the Las Parras Correction and Rehabilitation Center (CCR) as its main venue. During the ceremony, the authorities highlighted that access to knowledge is a key tool for the personal transformation of those serving sentences, allowing them to build a life project away from criminality.
Student enrollment breakdown
- Primary Education: 4,556 students.
- Adult Secondary Education (PREPARA): 4,480 students.
Knowledge constitutes an essential tool for achieving true freedom. Education is one of the central pillars of our assistance and treatment programs to achieve effective social reintegration.
Carlos Guerrero, National Director of Comprehensive Care for Adolescents in Conflict with Criminal Law (DINAIA).
A comprehensive training ecosystem
Beyond basic academic training, the Dominican penitentiary system has strengthened its strategic alliances to offer technical and professional training. Through coordination with various academic institutions and training organizations, the goal is to equip inmates with job skills that facilitate their integration into the productive market once they regain their freedom.
Among the key allies collaborating in this effort are INFOTEP, the Vocational Schools of the Armed Forces, and a wide network of universities, such as the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD), UAPA, UNICARIBE, among others. This collaborative effort aims to reduce recidivism rates through continuous training.
Integration activities
The opening of the school year at the CCR Las Parras was marked by an atmosphere of enthusiasm. The day included the raising of the National Flag, artistic performances by the center’s cultural group, and testimonies from former inmates who, after completing their studies during their period of incarceration, today serve as an example for the current prison population.
With this initiative, Alofoke Deportes highlights the authorities’ commitment to transforming penitentiary centers into spaces where education and culture act as the main drivers of change for society.
