Education Minister says online learning programs are a go for public education

[Alejandra]

Education Minister Roberto Furcal says the government’s Plan A is digital learning. The government is set on providing public school teachers and students with devices for the online programs in time for the start of the school year. The Ministry is also building traditional television and radio distance learning programs, its Plan B for schools where digital learning programs cannot be put into place in time.

Education Minister Roberto Furcal says public school digital education programs will be divided into virtual classes of 30 minutes. The school day will last four hours. The official start of classes in the Dominican Republic has been postponed to 2 November for public schools as the new authorities ready the school year. 2.8 million students enrolled for the 2020-2021 school year. Private schools were cleared to start earlier, but all schools were told to keep to distance...

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[Ken]

It all sounds wonderful and I hope it will meet with some success that can be built on for next year, if needed. But this country lacks the infrastructure necessary to rely on radio, TV, and internet learning for all at this time.

If every home had a radio or TV or electronic device and the electricity necessary to meet the teaching schedule (both having it available and the ability to pay the monthly bill) the Dominican Republic would be a very different country than it is now.

 

[bob saunders]

I can imagine Dominicans kids glued to the TV for four hours a day of instruction, NOT. Half them don't even pay attention with a teacher in front of them is class.

 

[Caonabo]

It all sounds wonderful and I hope it will meet with some success that can be built on for next year, if needed. But this country lacks the infrastructure necessary to rely on radio, TV, and internet learning for all at this time.

If every home had a radio or TV or electronic device and the electricity necessary to meet the teaching schedule (both having it available and the ability to pay the monthly bill) the Dominican Republic would be a very different country than it is now.

While I agree that internet connections may be lacking in rural campo areas, and those less fortunate may not be subsrcibed to cable television service, I have not seen a Dominican houshold without at least a radio in 60 years.
Yes, 60 years.