The new Minister of Education, Carlos Amarante Baret, has called on the business community and the Dominican people to take part in the consultations that will lead up to the National Pact for Quality Education. The idea of this pact is to raise education standards as a step toward increasing the nation’s competitiveness on the world markets. The minister was speaking yesterday, Wednesday 25 September at the monthly American Chamber of Commerce Luncheon where he talked about the “Current Situation and the Prospects for Dominican Education.” In his talk, Amarante Baret said that the nearly RD$100 billion for Education allocated in this year’s budget would be well and completely spent and he noted that the 2014 budget which he discussed with the President yesterday morning, Wednesday 25 September will be even larger. He also mentioned that despite some obstacles, the first phase of the program would be carried through. He expressed his gratitude for the attitude of the business community, which contributes time, money and technology to the efforts for a quality education for all Dominicans.