President Luis Abinader launched the 2025-2026 school year on Monday, 25 August 2025 in Santo Domingo, welcoming more than 2,062,000 public students nationwide of 2,664,028 students that are registered for the next school year in the public, private and hybrid systems.
The ceremony took place at the newly inaugurated Casandra Damirón School in Santo Domingo Este.
The Presidency announces more than 6,000 new teachers have been hired for the 2025-26 school year. Likewise, the Trae school transportation program has been expanded.
The President announced that 100% of public school students would receive a school kit, underscoring that educational quality remains a priority. He also highlighted the reintroduction of civics and ethics courses into the extended school day to strengthen values and civic education.
Abinader encouraged students to treat their schools as a second home. “I ask the students to treat their school, their high school, as their home,” he said. “This is your home and it will be for many. Take care of it and share with your classmates as brothers and sisters.”
President Abinader delivered a message of hope and commitment, urging parents to actively support and motivate their children throughout the school year. He called on the entire educational community to participate, offer solutions, and work together to build a better future for the Dominican Republic. “Education is everyone’s commitment,” he affirmed.
Highlighting education’s role as a driver of national development, the president reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening schools and ensuring better opportunities for all students. He emphasized that education is a collective effort involving parents, teachers, students, and communities. “May the school be the center of the community,” he said. “When the school is the center of the community, the values and objectives of that community are different.”
Minister of Education Luis Miguel De Camps highlighted that over two million public-sector students were returning to classrooms in an atmosphere of national unity and commitment. He stated that the school year would operate under a clear “road map” focused on strengthening core subjects like reading, writing, and mathematics, while also boosting instruction in English, the arts, and technical education.
“Education is the most patriotic investment a nation can make,” De Camps declared, calling for a national alliance involving students, teachers, families, and society to secure the future of the Dominican Republic.
The government’s commitment is reflected in several key initiatives. The TRAE school transportation program has expanded to include 1,871 buses nationwide, 50 of which are wheelchair accessible. In the last two years, the program has provided more than 36.12 million rides.
The education system now has 143,913 active teachers, including 6,483 new teachers and 8,666 new administrative staff. Over 132,000 teachers participated in summer training programs under the “Innovate and Learn” strategy, with a focus on STEAM education.
The National Institute of Student Welfare (INABIE) is ensuring student well-being from day one. The school lunch program will serve more than two million people across 7,033 public schools. In addition, students will receive full kits with uniforms, shoes, and backpacks, and the Bono a Mil program will benefit 1.39 million students.
Further strengthening the system, the Psycho-Emotional Support Center (CAPEM) and a retention strategy for adolescents and young adults have been implemented. This includes initiatives to prevent early pregnancy and unions, a menstrual hygiene program, and enhanced access to school transportation routes.
The Ministry of Education also noted that enrollment for three- and four-year-olds has more than doubled since the 2019-2020 school year.
The President also dedicated his weekly press conference presentation to focus on education programs in public schools nationwide. Vice Minister Ancel Scheker spoke of training of teachers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) programs.
Meanwhile, the Public School Teachers Association in central Bonao announced a teacher strike for the second day of school that will impact 27,000 students, as reported in Diario Libre. The strike is in solidarity with the president of ADP in Bonao who has been summoned to court for a defamation case.
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Presidency
La Semanal
Diario Libre
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Diario Libre
Diario Libre
26 August 2025