Ministry of Education boots over 600 teachers

[Dolores]

The Ministry of Education has fired over 600 teachers for serious violations in their job, most especially for abandoning their jobs and getting paid for doing nothing. Of this number, nearly 350 requested voluntary removal, and nearly 280 were outright fired for abandoning their jobs.

The Ministry had investigated these many cases and found that many of those dismissed for cause, did not even live in the Dominican Republic any more. While they were receiving salaries that varied between RD$70,000 and RD$90,000, these persons were paying substitute teachers between RD$6,000 and RD$9,000 to cover their classes.

Of the total number that were dismissed, fully 80% were due to abandoning their jobs and 20% were for various causes, such as violence in the schools, drugs, sexual harassment, or falsifying of documents.

Educational districts in Santo Domingo, San Pedro...

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[drstock]

The kids I support told me their English teacher just sits using his phone through lessons. He occasionally gets one of the kids to write some stuff on the blackboard, but not much else. He only does anything when the directora is about. I'm upset about this, because I have always emphasised the importance of learning English, but I'm nervous to say anything because I don't want any repercussions for the kids.

 

[chico bill]

The kids I support told me their English teacher just sits using his phone through lessons. He occasionally gets one of the kids to write some stuff on the blackboard, but not much else. He only does anything when the directora is about. I'm upset about this, because I have always emphasised the importance of learning English, but I'm nervous to say anything because I don't want any repercussions for the kids.

I think cell phones are the demise of culture and especially in DR where you can see any Dominican who can stay off of them for more than 2 minutes.
Maybe that's why Haitian workers are hired over Dominicans in construction because it's hard to shovel concrete with a cellphone in your hand

 

[bob saunders]

We have a 9-year girl that spent the last 5 years in public school and is doing Grade three for the second time. She only knew the vowels and half the consonants. First look you would think she had a learning disability. Most kids in kindergarten knew more than her. In two months, my wife taught her how to read. She isn't up to grade level yet, but she is close to Grade two level. There is nothing wrong with her ability to read, she just has parents that didn't help her, teachers that didn't care nor know how to teach, and is very quiet. There are thousands of kids like her that slip through the cracks, and that isn't just in this country. One of our teachers that went to the Public school system last year said she only had three or four students in her grade four class that were capable readers, out of thirty.

 

[JD Jones]

Teachers getting paid while living in the states need to be repatriated, tried, and sent to long jail terms.

 

[CristoRey]

Teachers getting paid while living in the states need to be repatriated, tried, and sent to long jail terms.

Didn't they cut a bunch of government "employees" who were doing the exact same thing a few years ago?

 

[PJT]

Get the salary money back from the thieves.

Regards,

PJT

 

[johne]

There is only one way to look at this. They committed a crime. They defrauded the government and they stole government money.
The next crime is for officials to do nothing about this matter.
And the next abuse...not a crime but close to it,is for the public to accept this behavior as "is just what it' is". It's NOT ....it is a serious crime.

 

[LindseyKaufman]

There were several teachers in Jamao and one director who lost jobs over this. Two other directors were put on leave for three months because they allowed this to happen.

The school director who lost his job was living in the US and driving Uber. He was building a beautiful home next to mine. A nice guy- just did not have scruples. Needless to say work on his home has stopped.

And Bob- we have had the same experience regarding reading. During COVID we traveled to the various mountain communities to tutor reading using the Heggerty program, which is currently widely used in the US. We only took on students who were between 9-13 years old and could not read a word or know phonetics. We measured a reading levels at the beginning and end of our 1 1/2 years of tutoring. ALL students were reading. Some had gained as much as 3-4 grade levels in reading, as if once they knew the basics, it all clicked. Others gained 1 1/2-2 grades of reading level.

It is nothing magical. Just plugging away at the basics on a regular basis.

And truly, I have a problem putting my finger on exactly what is wrong. Almost on a weekly basis school is canceled so teachers can receive more training. So it is not they they do not know how to teach. Sometimes I think they just throw in the towel Because they know how to teach but are not given the materials and resources necessary to implement the methods.

 

[reilleyp]

This sounds familiar. Is this a repost, or is this a second round of firings?

 

[bob saunders]

There were several teachers in Jamao and one director who lost jobs over this. Two other directors were put on leave for three months because they allowed this to happen.

The school director who lost his job was living in the US and driving Uber. He was building a beautiful home next to mine. A nice guy- just did not have scruples. Needless to say work on his home has stopped.

And Bob- we have had the same experience regarding reading. During COVID we traveled to the various mountain communities to tutor reading using the Heggerty program, which is currently widely used in the US. We only took on students who were between 9-13 years old and could not read a word or know phonetics. We measured a reading levels at the beginning and end of our 1 1/2 years of tutoring. ALL students were reading. Some had gained as much as 3-4 grade levels in reading, as if once they knew the basics, it all clicked. Others gained 1 1/2-2 grades of reading level.

It is nothing magical. Just plugging away at the basics on a regular basis.

And truly, I have a problem putting my finger on exactly what is wrong. Almost on a weekly basis school is canceled so teachers can receive more training. So it is not they they do not know how to teach. Sometimes I think they just throw in the towel Because they know how to teach but are not given the materials and resources necessary to implement the methods.

Ok, I will buy part of that argument, but my mother (grade nine education) taught my oldest brother to read using paper, pencil, and a couple of basic reading books. He in turn taught my brother and I using the same resources. A Smart board, tablets, and software can certainly make the job easier but are not an essential requirement.

 

[jaguar86]

Ok, I will buy part of that argument, but my mother (grade nine education) taught my oldest brother to read using paper, pencil, and a couple of basic reading books. He in turn taught my brother and I using the same resources. A Smart board, tablets, and software can certainly make the job easier but are not an essential requirement.

I agree with Bob.

I think those teachers and the parents just don't care.

 

[drstock]

I agree with Bob.

I think those teachers and the parents just don't care.

I think that most of the parents care, but most of them have minimal education too, so there isn't much they can do.

 

[LindseyKaufman]

Ok, I will buy part of that argument, but my mother (grade nine education) taught my oldest brother to read using paper, pencil, and a couple of basic reading books. He in turn taught my brother and I using the same resources. A Smart board, tablets, and software can certainly make the job easier but are not an essential requirement.

We didn't use fancy equipment. This was during COVID. We packed tables and chairs in our truck, drove to the isolated mountain communities, unpacked and taught in small groups of no more than 3 students- right in the middle of the street or on someone's porch or in churches. I mention the Heggerty method because it is proven to work. It is a phonics program. We supplemented it with Scholastic Lecturas Cortas. Any reading matter would do, as you implied. But for us, we need to measure results. Without data and the use of proven, level-based programs, we cannot apply for grants or report to our donors to support our requests for funds.

Probably, I will add that your mother was successful because she was also teaching you the value of education, and specifically, reading. The majority of adults throughout Jamao are illiterate, so they would have no way to help their child with academics in the home.

 

[josh2203]

"The Ministry had investigated these many cases and found that many of those dismissed for cause, did not even live in the Dominican Republic any more. While they were receiving salaries that varied between RD$70,000 and RD$90,000, these persons were paying substitute teachers between RD$6,000 and RD$9,000 to cover their classes."

While obviously I don't know how this works in the schools or if the school management is part of this or supporting this, but if this is not the case, how come nobody noticed that the person receiving salary is not even there? This may sound completely naiive and hence the doubt that the school principals or other management knew about this / accepted this / were part of this?

 

[josh2203]

but I'm nervous to say anything because I don't want any repercussions for the kids.

Sorry if I'm missing something, but those repercussions would be exactly what and for doing what? That their grades would suddenly go down or something?

 

[LindseyKaufman]

"The Ministry had investigated these many cases and found that many of those dismissed for cause, did not even live in the Dominican Republic any more. While they were receiving salaries that varied between RD$70,000 and RD$90,000, these persons were paying substitute teachers between RD$6,000 and RD$9,000 to cover their classes."

While obviously I don't know how this works in the schools or if the school management is part of this or supporting this, but if this is not the case, how come nobody noticed that the person receiving salary is not even there? This may sound completely naiive and hence the doubt that the school principals or other management knew about this / accepted this / were part of this?

Josh, as far as Jamao goes, everybody knew who was not there and living abroad. However those doing so were on the right political party at the time so they were somehow protected. Those who were in the same side politically would not rat and those who were members of a different party had no power to say anything.

I don’t have much faith in the education system here, but I will give the president credit for cleaning up this particular fraud in the system.

 

[Aguaita29]

Continue reading...

"The Ministry had investigated these many cases and found that many of those dismissed for cause, did not even live in the Dominican Republic any more. While they were receiving salaries that varied between RD$70,000 and RD$90,000, these persons were paying substitute teachers between RD$6,000 and RD$9,000 to cover their classes."

While obviously I don't know how this works in the schools or if the school management is part of this or supporting this, but if this is not the case, how come nobody noticed that the person receiving salary is not even there? This may sound completely naiive and hence the doubt that the school principals or other management knew about this / accepted this / were part of this?

Teachers can get substitutes. Public schools don´t mind them because the teachers pay them out of their own pockets. You make $70,000 -$90,000 and you pay your substitute $9,000-$12,000. It´s a win- win situation for those involved.

This has happened with nurses too. Nurses on leave or "on vacation" in the U.S., for over a year. They can get away with it for a long time. Some wait for a pension, others just want to keep their benefits.
There´s also a political tug of war. Even if you´re in management, It might not be that easy to report or fire someone. You realize someone has been ¨on vacation¨ for two years, you might face presure from their politician friends.

 

[NanSanPedro]

Teachers can get substitutes. Public schools don´t mind them because the teachers pay them out of their own pockets. You make $70,000 -$90,000 and you pay your substitute $9,000-$12,000. It´s a win- win situation for those involved.

This has happened with nurses too. Nurses on leave or "on vacation" in the U.S., for over a year. They can get away with it for a long time. Some wait for a pension, others just want to keep their benefits.
There´s also a political tug of war. Even if you´re in management, It might not be that easy to report or fire someone. You realize someone has been ¨on vacation¨ for two years, you might face presure from their politician friends.

And they were pushiing a tax increase? F that.

 

[drstock]

Sorry if I'm missing something, but those repercussions would be exactly what and for doing what? That their grades would suddenly go down or something?

I don't know what repercussions there might be for complaining about a teacher, but as a gringo I am always nervous about trying to throw my weight around in a Dominican institution. I have a feeling that they might resent it and the kids could suffer somehow.