The Ministry of Superior Education (Mescyt) announced the graduation of 20,000 students from the English Immersion Program.
The immersion program is available in more than 129 centers nationwide and so far has benefited more than 250,000 Dominicans.
The English Immersion Program for Competitiveness dates back to 2005 and was the initiative of Ileana de Castro, Rossana Haché, Guillermina Saiz and Ellen Ducy.
It is now available in all provinces and the National District. There are 90,000 applicants for the 27,000 slots for the program in 2026.
The intensive program was designed to significantly enhance the English language proficiency of Dominican citizens and aims to better position them in an increasingly globalized workforce. Its draw is that those who are chosen receive free education. Knowing English is regarded as essential for landing better jobs and entrepreneurial projects.
When the program began in 2005, it originally comprised 600 hours of instruction. The curriculum has since expanded significantly. It is now a rigorous 830-hour program. Classes are conducted in-person and intensively, typically running for four hours daily over a period of 11 months.
The training takes place in 129 centers across the country, including universities, institutes recognized for teaching English as a foreign language, and dedicated centers operating under MESCyT’s coordination.
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Diario Libre
El Dia
4 December 2025