Education is a supposed priority for the Fernandez government, but, according to a report in the Listin Diario, the budget assigned to the Ministry of Education may not attest to that. Government funding of educational programs accounts for only 8% of the total budget, while years ago it was nearer the 16% that is called for by law.
The department has been allotted RD$2 billion less than what it had requested of the Executive Branch. For instance, while it had requested RD$843 million for the construction, repair and equipping of public schools, it was only allotted RD$13.2 million.
The Ministry of Education received a total allotment of RD$16 billion for 2005, up from RD$12 billion in 2004. The Ministry had requested a budget for 2005 of RD$19 billion.