The Ministry of Education has announced a contest for designing a school desk to be manufactured in the Dominican Republic. The Ministry is appealing to architects, industrial designers, interior decorators, university students and artisans with the challenge of creating a Dominican school desk for use in elementary and middle schools of the public school system. The desk needs to be functional, modern and especially comfortable enough to maintain students’ attention span during the extended school hours now being opened in public schools nationwide.
Upon making the announcement, Administrative Minister of the Presidency Jose Ramon Peralta said the idea is for the desk to become the identity seal that represents pride in being Dominican and a symbol of a society of opportunities where talent, effort, work and creativity prevail. He said the local manufacturing of the desks would contribute to the economy nationwide.
Prospective applicants may download the requirements at www.minerd.gob.do or by visiting the Ministry of Education Procurement Department (Departamento de Compras). Government employees cannot participate in the contest.
The winner will receive a RD$1 million cash prize and the design will become the property of the Dominican government that will be able to use it, adapt or vary it as it considers fit. Applications can be submitted until Monday, 28 January 2013.