Very high illiteracy rates along the border

[Dolores]

It no secret that some of the provinces along the border with Haiti are among the poorest in the Dominican Republic. Provinces like Bahoruco, Independencia, and Elias Piña have the smallest populations and a large number of low-income people. Other border provinces are joined by Santiago Rodriguez, Dajabon, Montecristi and Pedernales.

A recent study by the Ministry of the Economy, Planning and Development revealed that, on average, 17.7% of the population of these provinces is illiterate. The stat is well above the national average of 11%.

In the rural areas of these provinces, 28% do not know how to read or write, more than twice the 12% illiteracy rate in the urban areas. Adults and the elderly are the most limited with averages going between 12% and 20%.

However, the study also found that since 2010, the illiteracy rates had decreased by nearly 11%.

On the positive...

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[PJT]

In the past it may have been reasonable to surmise the more distant a location is from the capital placed it at a disadvantage of receiving any government support, a sort of "out of sight out of mind" mentality. Were the border areas shorted on education investment because of the surmised disadvantage? Nowadays intelligent communication and better roads have closed distances, opened eyes. It could be suggested it is political fears of the border areas presenting a healthy education environment may act as a magnet to draw more foreigners to cross the border. This literacy shortage is presently a drag on the progress of development of the border zones, especially in Perdernales.

Regards,

PJT

 

[LindseyKaufman]

In our remote mountain communities the illiteracy rate is also high. When we do new class registration, we must complete the forms for the parents. We do it for all of them in order to not cause embarrassment.

Here, except for teachers, nurses, and government workers, all others have no more than a third grade education. And you know how great that education was!

Here is a message I received yesterday.

Mubuesdias

I could send you many similarly written messages.

Thank God I teach children whose first writing is phonetic! I am a master of figuring out illiterate communication. Written, that is. When they speak, I am often at a loss to understand what they are saying.

 

[Joseph NY2STI]

.

Mubuesdias

Muy buenos dias?

 

[Father Guido]

Chet Huntley with the late news