The Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology (MESCYT) reports that so far this year the government has granted 6,622 scholarships for undergraduate and graduate studies. Speaking at a press conference at the Presidential Palace on Monday, 26 August, Minister Ligia Amada Melo stated that as of August 2013 the government had approved 3,210 scholarships for studies in national universities and will be approving another 1,200 for the September-December 2013 quarter. She said that 2,062 Dominican students have received scholarships this year to study at universities in the United States, Spain, France, United Kingdom, Russia, Czech Republic, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Costa Rica and Honduras. The Ministry plans to issue another 150 for this school year, she added. The Minister said that the scholarships are making a difference to the lives of young people who can get better jobs and end up with better future prospects.
She says that the government is also funding the studies of 1,867 students in 25 technical degrees at the Higher Technical Community Institute (ITSC) in eastern Santo Domingo and another 12,000 universities studies are participating in the English by Immersion intensive language program at the UASD.
Moreover, she mentioned that the Ministry is backing 1,300 students who are taking 65 courses in software development at 14 universities.
She also said that new programs to train teachers in engineering, medicine and nursing are being developed.