The Ministry of Education confirms what is apparent – Haitians are studying in Dominican public schools every day more by the thousands.
Dominican Republic’s educational landscape is undergoing a significant transformation, driven primarily by a surge in Haitian student enrollment. According to the Ministry of Education (MINERD), the number of Haitian students enrolled in Dominican schools has skyrocketed by 78% between 2021 and 2024, El Nacional reports.
While the overall student population in the country increased by 9.6% during this period, Haitian students have far outpaced this growth. In 2021, there were 105,021 Haitian students enrolled, a figure that jumped to 186,975 by 2024. This represents an increase of 81,954 students in just four years.
In contrast, the growth rate of Dominican students was significantly lower, at only 6.3%.
The rapid increase in Haitian student enrollment places additional strain on resources and infrastructure. Education at Dominican public schools is paid by Dominican taxpayers. In addition to tuition, all students receive school meals, uniforms, backpacks, school supplies, tablets and computers and more.
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El Nacional
13 January 2025