During her visit to the DR, UNESCO director-general Irina Bokova praised the success of the Dominican national literacy program, which has taught around 700,000 people in the country to read and write in around two years time.
Bokova is on a two-day official visit to Santo Domingo from 14-16 January 2015. The visit was organized by the Ministry of Culture as part of UNESCO’s 70th Anniversary celebrations. Bokova is also visiting the Colonial City of Santo Domingo, which was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1990, with the Minister of Culture. The Colonial City is undergoing major renovations. Bokova’s trip is being coordinated by the DR’s permanent delegate to UNESCO, Laura Faxas.
During her visit to Santo Domingo, Bokova met with President Danilo Medina, Minister of the Presidency Gustavo Montalvo, Minister of Foreign Relations Andres Navarro and other ministers. She also met with First Lady Candida Montilla and visited a new center for comprehensive care for disabled children (CAID) in Santo Domingo, a project overseen by the First Lady’s office.
Her agenda has also included meetings with Minister of Education Carlos Amarante Baret, with whom she was scheduled to visit the Padre Eulalio Antonio Arias School in the framework of the “Quisqeuya Aprende Contigo” National Literacy Plan, the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology Ligia Amada Melo Quezada and the Minister of Culture and president of the Dominican National Commission for UNESCO Jose Antonio Rodriguez. Irina Bokova will also meet with the United Nations Country Team and Resident Coordinator.
A meeting with 4,000 to 5,000 volunteers and beneficiaries of the National Literacy Plan, coordinated by Pedro Luis Castellanos, director of Special Programs of the Presidency and coordinator of the technical team on literacy is also scheduled. Bokova will attend the inauguration of the National Congress of Literacy and Adult Education.
The extensive work program also includes meetings with Senate president Cristina Lizardo and Chamber of Deputies president Abel Martinez.
http://www.7dias.com.do/portada/2015/01/15/i180355_unesco-destaca-exito-dominicana-lucha-contra-analfabetismo.html