Based on data from the 2010 Census, the National Statistical Office (ONE) has revealed that 1,105,643 people over the age of six cannot read or write. This is about 13% of the Dominican Republic's population. In the 2002 Census, the percentage of people who were illiterate was placed at 16%.
Dear Dominican friends, I haved lived in the DR for 12 years and I have always said that the situation with education is very sad. Several things bother me. The funding for maintenance on the Metro exceeds the entire budget for education. I wonder why? Just an example of the priorities the government has opted for. Another thing that strikes me as odd is that it appears the rich and powerful don't want the younger generation to become smarter or prosperous. Of course the rich and powerful control most of everything in the DR including lucrative government contracts that are rife with theft and corruption. The saddest thing of all though is the failure to realize that if 13% of the population as of 2010 are illeterate, it means these people, fellow Dominicans, have to survive any way they can. How many window washers and shoe shine jobs exist? Other alternatives seem to dismal to consider.
The only hope at the most fundamental level is to educate the populus. Domincans are very creative, good business people, inventive and caring. However, there are many Dominicans that don't have much to look forward to. A fundamental and revolutionary change in education must take place. It's time for the rich and powerful to say enough is enough and do the right thing.
I'm proud to live here and proud to call the Dominican Republic my home, but I truly hope that change will come sooner than later.
Dear Dominican friends, I haved lived in the DR for 12 years and I have always said that the situation with education is very sad. Several things bother me. The funding for maintenance on the Metro exceeds the entire budget for education. I wonder why? Just an example of the priorities the government has opted for. Another thing that strikes me as odd is that it appears the rich and powerful don't want the younger generation to become smarter or prosperous. Of course the rich and powerful control most of everything in the DR including lucrative government contracts that are rife with theft and corruption. The saddest thing of all though is the failure to realize that if 13% of the population as of 2010 are illeterate, it means these people, fellow Dominicans, have to survive any way they can. How many window washers and shoe shine jobs exist? Other alternatives seem to dismal to consider.
The only hope at the most fundamental level is to educate the populus. Domincans are very creative, good business people, inventive and caring. However, there are many Dominicans that don't have much to look forward to. A fundamental and revolutionary change in education must take place. It's time for the rich and powerful to say enough is enough and do the right thing.
I'm proud to live here and proud to call the Dominican Republic my home, but I truly hope that change will come sooner than later.