The National Association of Informatics Companies (Aneinfo) is complaining that a new US$300 million government plan to open computer schools nationwide will put them out of business, says El Caribe newspaper. The new governmental Instituto Audiovisual de Informatica (IADI) took a small computer school owned by Nazir Attalah and turned it into a nationwide program. The plan is to open 40 new centers with 200 computers each where students will receive 90% of their tuition from the government. Students would only have to pay RD$500 to register, as the government will pick up the remaining RD$4,500 tuition per course. Domingo Tejada, spokesman for Aneinfo, said this will put private schools out of business as they will not be able to compete with the 90% free tuition. The organization has requested a date with the President to explain their plight. Nazir Attalah, coordinator of the new program that took his computer school nationwide, is optimistic about the effects of the program. He told El Caribe newspaper it will “revolutionize informatics in the country and the Caribbean.” Attalah explains that he created IADI to counteract the propaganda of the PLD party in the 2000 presidential campaign when then-presidential candidate Hipolito Mejia downplayed the importance of computers in the DR. The newspaper points out that in addition to being political advisor to the President, Atallah was named executive coordinator of the institute. The IADI program has already set up six centers in Capotillo, Josefa Brea, Villa Mella, Carretera Mella, El Conde and 27 de Febrero Avenue. Scheduled to open soon are schools in Los Alcarrizos, Herrera and Villa Duarte neighborhoods.
