The European Union will invest EUR52 million (RD$2 billion) in the Dominican educational system with the aim of guaranteeing students’ access to basic education classrooms, better quality standards and lower drop out rates. According to Hoy, part of the money will be used to make the Ministry of Education’s organization and budget structure more efficient. This was announced by the EU representative in the DR, Dino Sinigallia, Education Minister Alejandrina German, and the Director of the National Office for European Development Funds (ONFED) Onofre Rojas. The first disbursement will be of EUR3.8 million and will be used to initiate and develop a true reform of the educational system and diminish deficiencies in centers and faculties within the system.
Listin Diario reports that German spoke about the significance of this contribution for the strengthening of education in the forthcoming years. Sinigallia said that education is a high-priority sector for the Dominican government as well as for the EU, and that the Commission he presides is leading international support for this commitment. Rojas pointed out that the first disbursement will be allocated to the preparatory phase and for the strengthening of the goals of the education sector.