The Ministry of Education announced on Thursday, 2 May 2024 an overall 8% wage increase for public school teachers and those retired, but this was not enough for the teachers’ union (Asociación Dominicana de Profesores – ADP). The teachers’ union continues to rally its members to strike in protest. The union is asking for at least a 20% increase.
Public school teachers are among the best paid school teachers in the Dominican Republic, to the point the once burgeoning private school system has not been able to compete and thousands of teachers have resigned to join the public school system.
Local media report that not all public school teachers nationwide are backing the strike. Many have said the labor demands should not affect classes.
When making the announcement of the 8%, Education Minister Ángel Hernández recalled that only two years ago the government had instituted an over-the-board 10% raise.
Hernández indicated that school principals also benefited from a seven percent increase in their basic salary last year.
On Wednesday, 1 May 2024, the Minister of Education urged the ADP to comply with the agreement signed in 2021, which includes not suspending teaching and not calling strikes, while showing willingness to work in a permanent dialogue to address the challenges facing the education sector.
However, the president of the ADP, Eduardo Hidalgo announced on last Wednesday that new regional strikes to demand a fair salary increase, starting tomorrow in the South region. He announced strikes on Monday, 6 May in the North, on the 8th of this month in the East and on the 10th in Greater Santo Domingo.
Hidalgo maintains that the government has the resources to meet the union’s demands and insists on the authorities’ failure to comply with the agreements signed in 2021, which the Ministry of Education denies.
The Ministry of Education said the 8% increase is an additional teacher allotment of RD$5.17 billion, bringing teacher wages to RD$7.47 billion in 2025.
The Ministry of Education said it recognizes the dedication and hard work of the teachers, which is why it not only has ordered the wage increase but also continues to invests in didactic and technological resources, continuous training and other support to facilitate the teachers’ professional performance.
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Ministry of Education
El Dia
Diario Libre
Telesur
6 May 2024