Ei-iE

Firm in its commitment to quality public education, the Dominican teacher union, the Asociación Dominicana de Profesores (ADP), is lobbying the government of the Dominican Republic to double the education budget allocation.

The campaign, under the slogan ‘Because a year without school...is a century of misery’, calls for an increase in the education budget to 4% of GDP. Current expenditure at 1.8% remains far from the allocation of 6% recommended by UNESCO. t

Throughout November they will be bringing the campaign to the general public and collecting signatures in support of their petition on quality public education. The campaign is to be promoted in community events, baseball games, and cultural activities. Children are also invited to sign up to show their support for quality education.

At the end of November, the union will present the collected signatures to the Treasury and appeal for a twenty year plan to protect and strengthen quality public education. ADP will be calling for the 4% budget allocation plan to be enacted in law. According to Anny Santos, ADP Press Officer, this will mean that “independently of the political party in office, the four percent of the GDP will be upheld, meaning an end to the struggle year in year out to achieve it”.

EI hopes that the Dominican government will respond to the pro-activism of the ADP and step up plans to secure and guarantee quality education for all children in the Dominican Republic.