Yesterday, Tuesday 11 December, the Chamber of Deputies approved a resolution for the Ministry of Education to be more efficient in distribution of textbooks to public school students.
Deputy Wellington Arnaud proposed the motion that distribution of school textbooks should be made a “national priority’ and the initiative urges parents and teachers to take part in the effort.
A recent survey in National District public schools revealed that only 50% of students in elementary and middle grades had received textbooks this year. Of those that received books, most were second hand.
PRD deputies Arnaud and Jose Ignacio Paliza complained that the Ministry of Education had been allocated RD$1.13 billion to buy textbooks and reports having spent RD$907 million. Nevertheless, they say that dozens of schools and students did not receive the books due to what they described as “the irresponsibility of all the authorities.”
They said that they had asked Education Minister Carlos Amarante Baret for information about the procurement of the books on 11 September, but had still not received a reply.
Diputados aprueban resolución que declara entrega libros textos como prioridad nacional