The Education System of the Dominican Republic

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of the historical and social foundations of the education system in the Dominican Republic, attending to educational development, governance, and reform within the country’s political and economic context. This chapter provides a general orientation to the structure of the Dominican Republic’s education system while introducing the laws, frameworks, and institutions that constitute the educational system’s primary components and function together to address a variety of priorities across the country. As education in the Dominican Republic has received increasing and sustained political and economic attention since the 1990s, this chapter also describes the key educational policies and programs that comprise the Revolución Educativa, or the educational revolution, as promoted by national and international actors. We thus detail the structural and curricular areas of education that have been targeted by increased financial and programmatic investments through reforms seeking to strengthen the education system and improve student learning outcomes. We also outline the strategic plans and initiatives that have organized contemporary education reform – particularly over the past 30 years – including extended school day, competency-based curriculum development, teacher education and training, and information and communication technology. Looking forward, this chapter also describes emerging issues of importance that influence education reform across the country such as school violence and performance on international assessments. This chapter thus provides a foundational overview of the education system in the Dominican Republic, with a focus on organizational features, social and political context, and strategic initiatives.