Deeper Into the 4 Percent

Article 63 of the Dominican Constitution requires that the government allocate sufficient resources to provide a free high quality educational experience to all public school students. Currently the Constitution requires that 4 percent of the GDP be set aside for this purpose.

Even though progress has been made over the last 50 years (a decline in the rate of illiteracy from 35 percent of the population aged 15 in 1960 to 11 percent in 2005), this percentage still marks theDominican Republicas a country with the largest percentage of illiterate citizens inLatin America. Because the government is not meeting the 4 percent requirement, the students who attend public schools (three out of every four school aged kids), are supplied with no more than a notebook, a pencil and a single textbook. Teachers are also forced to face the problem of overcrowding in the classroom (often more than forty students per class) and they lack adequate teaching materials as well. Not only do they face this situation, but the basic monthly salary of RD $ 7,802.29 is described by Abel Gonzalez (a member of the Executive Committee of the ADP (Dominican Association of Teachers), as a “meager and pyrrhic salary.”

Given the current circumstances, there has been a recurring question in the minds of the Dominican people: What causes the government to shirk its responsibility to adequately fund public education? Currently the allocation has not exceeded the 2 percent of the GDP. The 2011 budget only appropriated RD $ 41.534 million instead of the RD $85.000 million that would equal 4 percent of the GDP, ranking the Dominican Republic very low on the list of countries in Latin America with respect to investment in public education.

President Leonel Fernandez has already expressed publicly that this goal probably can not be reached in the near future. Because of this, other parties have developed alternative plans, such as the PRD (Dominican Revolutionary Party) which suggests that the government withdraw small amounts of money from the various ministries and branches of government until it reaches the 4 percent figure. But a plan like this is likely to result in more complications throughout government. For this and many other reasons, neither Leonel Fernandez, nor any other president, will be able to reach the 4 percent goal, without making it the central focus of the government.

So yes, the nation needs and has the right to receive adequate funding for education as is written in Article 66-97. However even with additional financial resources, without major reforms in the public educational system, reduction in wasteful spending and updating the method of instruction, the students will still not receive an adequate education. The Government and the country must work together in this great national project: to reform and modernize the education system, at all levels. This reform will require more modern classrooms, improvement in technological systems, more textbooks and classroom materials, and generally a major change in attitude.

It is a task that will require a large sacrifice on the government’s part, which it is performing right now, but this doesn’t mean people should stop defending this cause, as it might a beginning step for a better nation.

Contributed by Lorenzo Vicente

“La educación tiene por objetivo la formación integraldelser humano a lolargo de toda su vida y debe orientarse hacia el desarrollo de su potencial creativo y de sus valores éticos. Busca el acceso al conocimiento, a las ciencias, a la técnica, y a los demás bienes y valores de la cultura.” Estas son las palabras usadas al redactar el Articulo 63 de la Constitución Dominicana. No se trata de cualquier clase de educación, sino de educación que permita desarrollar todo el potencial de cada individuo.Paralograr esto, la Constitución obliga al estado a la gratuidad, la calidad y el financiamiento de la educación.

La tasa de analfabetismo de la Republica Dominicana se ha reducido significantemente en las ultimas cuatro décadas, de un 35 por ciento de la población de 15 años en 1960, a un 11 por ciento en el 2005, aunque haya tenido progreso la misión de educar al país en los últimos casi 50 años, esta tasa sitúa a Republica Dominicana como uno de los países con mayor población de analfabetas en América Latina actualmente. El dominicano debe reconocer que la educación no es solo el deber de cada individuo, si no, por igual, su respectivo derecho, ycomodominicanos, cada uno debe de ejercer este derecho. Pero, ¿Cómo se ejerce este derecho en las circunstancias que se encuentran los institutos educacionales públicos que recorren el país?

Tres de cada cuatro estudiantes asisten a escuelas públicas, y a estos se les suple gratuitamente no más que una mascota, un lápiz de carbón, y un solo libro de texto. Los profesores se ven obligados a enfrentar un gran problema, más de cuarenta alumnos por aula, vagamente preparados materialmente. Pero no solo tienen esa situación, si no que también, no tienen incentivo alguno; el sueldo base mensual de un profesor es de RD $7,802.29, el cual Abel González, segundo vocaldelComité Ejecutivo de la ADP (Asociación Dominicana de Profesores), definiócomo“un salario de miseria y pírrico.”

Con las circunstancias actuales en las que se encuentra la educación publica en el país, ha surgido una pregunta recurrente en las mentesdelpueblo dominicano: ¿Cual es la causa? En la ultima década el por ciento invertido en la educación no ha superado el 2 por ciento, cuando globalmente se sugiere que un 4 por ciento sería lo indispensable para proveer una educación base.

Se necesitan RD $85,000 millones para poder alcanzar la metadel4 por ciento, pero la apropiación presupuestaldel2011 solo llega RD $41,534 millones. Republica Dominicana se ha convertido en uno de los países con menor gasto en educación de AméricaLatina. Leonel Fernández ha expresado ya públicamente que esta meta no se podrá completar en ningún periodo próximo, ya que la suma que implica el 4 por ciento ha incrementado drásticamente en los últimos años y se ha vuelto inasequible. Debido a esto otros partidos han creado planes alternativos, tales como el PRD (Partido de la Revolución Dominicana) que sugiere que se extraiga de varios ministerios y secciones del gobierno, que en partes suman el total necesario para el 4 por ciento. Planescomoéstos dan lugar a más complicaciones en las otras secciones de gobierno, por esta y muchas otras razones, Leonel Fernández, o cualquier otro presidente, no podrá llevar a cabo el 4 por ciento, no se considera un tema vital para el gobierno, dándole más prioridad que otras situaciones actuales.

Entonces si, la nación necesita y tiene derecho a un 4 por ciento, como está escrito en el artículo 66-97, pero con recursos adicionales y sin una reforma importante que el dinero podría ser asignado a más personal, gastos innecesarios y sistemas educativos obsoletos. El Gobierno y el país deben trabajar juntos en este gran proyecto nacional: la reforma y modernizacióndelsistema educativo, en todos los niveles. A 4 porcentajes necesarios pero con una reforma. Se requiere de modernas aulas con sistemas de tecnología apropiada. La reforma del Ministerio y el sistema. Un cambio de mentalidad. Reconversión y mejores condiciones para los profesores y estudiantes y, sobre todo, para estudiar y cuantificar el costo de dar libros gratis y portátiles. Es una tarea que requiere un gran sacrificio de partedelgobierno, que no es capaz de ofrecer ahora mismo, pero esto no significa que la gente debería dejar de defender esta causa,comopuede ser un paso inicial para una mejor nación.

Contribuido por Lorenzo Vicente

Seniors

Last Friday May, 27^th we said goodbye to our seniors, the graduating promotion for The Community for Learning’s school year 2010- 2011. Exitium’ 11decided to pull off pranks in their last day of school, by throwing students and teachers into the pool.  Though they might have finished with school, the seniors still have a tight schedule before officially completing their school year. The

graduation ceremony took place Saturday May 28^th at the Santo Domingo Tennis Club (Bocha). Our directors, teachers, graduating students, and family and friends gathered for the ceremony which began at 8:00 p.m. with a speech by Carla Meyrink director of the high school. The ceremony continued with some words from Ed

 Crawford, Language Arts teacher.

 

Representing Exitium ’11, Jose Eladio Hernandez and Maria Alejandra Perez gave short speeches full of anecdotes concerning students and teachers. “The speeches were funny and dynamic and reminisced about good times, especially the recent trip to Palmar de Ocoa” Yvette Witte told The Voice. Afterwards the grads were joined by their families for a dinner at Restaurant Olivo.

The seniors then headed to Bavaro (June 1^st) for a five day stay at Hotel Flamenco for their prom trip. They are back and ready to work for the next two weeks taking the clinicas for the 12^th grade pruebas nacionales which are June 27^th to July 1^st.

When The Voice interviewed Carla, she indicated that there “Never have been so many students planning to remain in the Dominican Republic to begin their college education” She explained that a major reason for this is the presence of  the 2 plus 2 programs that INTEC and UNIBE are offering. These programs are now popular because, first they are new, and second they are accredited by US institutions and by theDominican Republic. This coming year all grads will be studying here except for Neal Rizik who will attendNortheasternUniversityinBoston.

We wish all our grads the best of luck in university and in their professional lives.

Contributed by Evelin Gomez and Laura Garcia Berrido

Tattoos and Piercings: What do they signify?

In response to remarks regarding tattoos and piercings made by Jorge Subero Isa, President of the Supreme Court, the tattooed and pierced population ofSanto Domingogathered in protest to transmit the message that even though there are people who have tattoos and piercings, they are not criminals and should not be looked down upon as such. Both Isa’s remarks blaming crime and drug use in this country on the tattooed and pierced population, and the protest that followed, inspired The Voice to investigate the school’s view on tattoos and piercings.

TCFL’s policies regarding tattoos and body-piercing are quite straightforward, as was shown during interviews with school directors Carla and Tami. They explained that since teaches have such a huge influence on their pupils, they should always cover up tattoos and display as little non-traditional piercings as possible. Regarding the use of tattoos and piercings on students, they said that they don’t mind students having either tattoos or piercings, it’s their own personal busyness, and that if parents approve, the school will not interfere.

They both said that they have an open mind when interviewing a tattooed and pierced job applicant, that they believe that piercings and tattoos do not affect performance. Citing the example of science teacher Yvette, who has numerous tattoos and piercings, Carla and Tami noted that she has been a very effective teacher, has established the school’s spirit club and has effectively organized numerous school events.

Yvette first got a tattoo when she turned eighteen, and since she grew up in a “surfer atmosphere” inMiami, this was perfectly normal; she loved the way it looked. She said that she didn’t have the approval of her parents, because they were very conservative. Eventually tattoos became part of Yvette’s personal identity. When The Voice questioned Yvette about how other people viewed her many tattoos and piercings, she explained that many people tend not to see the positive side of the person, identifying tattoos and piercings as evidence of lack of education. Yvette noted that she has had difficulties with supervisors and fellow workers in some jobs because of her tattoos. Recognizing that many people tend to judge her, she always makes an effort to cover them up (contributing to the maintenance of a professional environment). She also tries to excel professionally, and by being a hard worker, Yvette wants to dispel the notion that tattoos and piercings are detrimental to job performance

TeacherPalma, who has a nose piercing, pointed out to The Voice that a fact of Dominican culture is that everyone judges others’ appearance. She explained that in places such asNew York, where there is no specific dress code, tattoos and piercings aren’t looked down upon at all. Many other teachers confirmed what bothPalmaand Yvette said.

Kylia Llano, TCFL’s art teacher, helped The Voice understand tattoos as something artistic. She explained that a tattoo is aesthetic; it is a decoration and art on an individual’s body, and that this habit dates back thousands of years, when different ethnic groups used tattoos to beautify themselves. When The Voice asked Kylia if she had designed any tattoos, she answered by explaining that a tattoo is something terribly personal, you can’t just draw something and tattoo it on your body, and that the few tattoos she has designed were for people who had a clear idea of what they wanted, but didn’t possess the artistic skills required to create their own design.

In conclusion, we can say that the tattooed and pierced staff of TCFL is living proof that what Isa claimed is not accurate. Instead of being drug consumers and criminals, these teachers are professionals who have achieved success based upon their excellent work.

Contributed by Ernesto de Leon