Dominican Republic Ministry of Education addresses student placement shortages

The Dominican Republic Ministry of Education (MINERD) has addressed concerns regarding student placement for the upcoming 2026-2027 school year. Ancell Scheker, Vice Minister of Technical and Pedagogical Affairs, stated that approximately 9,000 students currently lack assigned school spots.

This figure stands in sharp contrast to estimates provided by the Dominican Association of Teachers (ADP), which suggested that as many as 474,000 students could be left without classrooms. Scheker dismissed the ADP's numbers as inaccurate regarding the actual demand for mandatory education spaces.

The Ministry noted that the shortage is most prevalent in high-growth areas driven by labor migration, specifically in Greater Santo Domingo and tourist regions like Higüey. To resolve the issue, the government is working to relocate students to available centers and will utilize the National Student Transport System (TRAE) to facilitate travel to these new locations.