Reducing the digital divide is one of the major satisfactions of President Leonel Fernández in government. President Fernandez visited the Ministry of Education yesterday to receive an overview on the education sector and achievements in the DR during his administration. President Fernandez himself spearheaded a program to provide computer access to low income students throughout the DR. As a result, 320 computer labs with 20 computers each were installed in public high schools and 5,253 computers in public schools nationwide. Students were also given access to the Internet and 8,000 teachers were trained for the computer programs. Reporting to the President, Minister of Education Amada Melo highlighted the improvement of the situation of professors during the Fernandez administration. As a result of the improvement in public school education enrollment is up, to the point 76% of total school enrollment is now in public schools, versus 64% in 1994-95. This at a time that the desertion rates declined from 17.7% in 1996 to 11% in 1999. There has also been an 11.4% increase in the graduation rate. The Minister of Education highlighted the program to distribute 11 million free textbooks in public schools, and 1.2 million daily rations of breakfast. Also highlighted were the new programs for reading and math Olympics, science and technology clubs, and the successful meritorious student program with prizes such as trips, books and computers for outstanding public school students. Minister of Education Melo spoke about how never before had education had so much political and economic support, and also moral support from a President. "He continuously followed up on the educational programs, he was interested in every one of the activities that were being developed," she said. The Fernandez administration increased to RD$7,325.4 million the education budget that was RD$2,354 million in 1995. Some 20,442 new teachers were appointed, and teacher wages were doubled.
