
Local media continues to follow the efforts of Education Minister Roberto Furcal to defend the Ministry of Education from corruption charges. It would seem the Ministry of Education has been more in the press for irregularities than for achievements in education.
The Ministry of Education was early on accused of spending thousands to purchase orchids, irregularly hiring school directors, then billions irregularly spent to purchase devices in contracting now disputed by the Procurement Agency. There have been many headlines and investigations into alleged irregularities in school breakfast and luncheon purchases that even resulted in the Presidency ordering the director staff changed at the Inabie purchasing division of the Ministry. The saga continues with leading universities distancing themselves from being observers of the teacher-hiring contest after complaining of irregularities in the contest.
The complaints against actions of the Ministry of Education under Roberto Furcal now include claims that the minister has backed relatives becoming major suppliers through Inabie. Again Furcal is denying the charges.
The Ministry of Education is also making recent headlines for the changes in the guidelines for choosing the 19,000 public school teachers. While the rules state that the education credentials and profile should be first in points, there are complaints that the Ministry of Education assessors are giving priority to the points awarded during the personal interviews. This is the contest from which the universities desisted in participating as observers.
Furcal was the campaign director for today President Luis Abinader. His brother is the spokesperson for the ruling Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) in the Chamber of Deputies.
Read more in Spanish:
N Digital
Diario Libre
Diario Libre
Diario Libre
1 February 2022