The Central Electoral Board (JCE) and the Ministry of Education have announced plans to issue ID cards to 2.7 million students registered in Dominican public and private schools. The ID number will be the same that the students will use when they are adults. The plan will be implemented from 2014-2016, as reported in Listin Diario.
JCE president Roberto Rosario said that the plan means that the students’ parents will not have to request birth certificates for their children from the civil registry offices. Another benefit is that parents will be able to use the unique number to go online and view their children’s grades and to find out if they have been attending classes. The plan also involves issuing birth certificates to children who have not yet received them. The new system will save parents time and money, while providing them with the added security of knowing more about their children’s school attendance and performance, said Rosario. For the system to work, the Ministry of Education will ensure that each school has a computer with software for issuing birth certificates at the school itself. This is a joint Ministry of Education and JCE project. The JCE president said it would not require an increase in costs because the JCE and the Ministry’s equipment will be used and a computer will be assigned to each center. He said the Ministry of Education will cover the cost of the plastic card and the JCE will cover the cost of equipment and staff.
Rosario went on to say that the idea for the program came from the previous chief of the Police, Jose Armando Polanco during a visit he made to the JCE with the Minister of Interior and Police Jose Ramon Fadul. “They said that it would help solve the crime problem.” He pointed out that many unidentified teenagers are involved in crimes.
www.listin.com.do/la-republica/2013/10/10/295369/La-Junta-dotara-de-carnes-alumnos-de-escuelas-y-colegios