The resumption of the 2025-2026 school year following the Christmas holidays has begun with conflicting directives. The Ministry of Education (Minerd) had officially called for classes to resume on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, while the Dominican Association of Teachers (ADP) insists the break does not officially end until the next day.
The Ministry issued a formal call to parents and guardians across the country to ensure attendance and punctuality for students in both the public and private sectors.
According to the Ministry’s official calendar, the holiday break began on 19 December 2025 with the return to classrooms scheduled for 6 January. This date was selected because the Three Kings Day holiday was officially observed on Monday, 5 January.
“Every hour of teaching is fundamental to strengthening learning, reducing educational gaps, and advancing towards higher quality education for all,” the Ministry stated in a press release, emphasizing the importance of maximizing instructional time.
The teachers union, the ADP maintains that teachers and students should not return until Wednesday, 7 January. The union argues that the Ministry is contradicting its own documentation.
The ADP points to page 39 of the official school calendar, noting that the text defines the Christmas vacation period as beginning Friday, December 19, and concluding on Tuesday, 6 January. Therefore, they argue, the restart date is legally Wednesday.
ADP President Eduardo Hidalgo stated that the union is defending the statutory rights of educators. He cited Article 83, Literal B, of the Teacher’s Statute and General Education Law 66-97, which guarantees teachers 10 working days of Christmas vacation.
Beyond the legal arguments, Hidalgo appealed to cultural tradition. He noted that families customarily allow children time to enjoy their Three Kings Day gifts, citing the precedent set in January 2025 when classes resumed only after the holiday festivities had fully concluded.
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Listin Diario
6 January 2026