Today is the first day of school for 2.7 million children
\nand youths throughout the Dominican Republic. Some 1,251,333 students were
\nregistered in the first to eighth grade.
\nThis year school starts amidst complaints of high prices for school supplies and
\nbooks and a lack of classrooms. In the private sector, some schools have raised
\ntuition and fees by as much as 50%.
\nHoy reports that the Dominican Teachers Association (ADP) says that many
\nstudents will not be enrolled because of a lack of space. According to Eduardo
\nCuello, president of the ADP, today?s school is not so well equipped to house
\nthousands of children, and ?thousands and thousands of children are going to go
\nwithout classrooms.?
\nAccording to the report, ?Indicadores Educativos B?sicos 2002-2003? published by
\nthe Ministry of Education, there are 13,134 schools offering elementary and high
\nschool education. Of these, 11,005 are public schools and 1,916 private schools,
\nand 213 fall in the quasi-public school category. Of the total, the schools are
\nlocated 62% in rural areas (8,151) and 38% in urban centers (4,983). <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Today is the first day of school for 2.7 million children and youths throughout the Dominican Republic. Some 1,251,333 students were registered in the first to eighth grade. This year school starts amidst complaints of high prices for school supplies and books and a lack of classrooms. In the private sector, some schools have raised … <\/p>\n