Dominican Republic to halve student-to-counselor ratio in public schools

The Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Education has announced a plan to halve the student-to-counselor ratio in public schools. Minister Luis Miguel De Camps instructed that the number of students assigned to each psychologist or counselor be reduced from 300 to 150.

This initiative, aimed at the 2026-2027 school year, seeks to strengthen emotional support, improve school coexistence, and provide more timely responses to mental health issues and violence. To implement the measure, the Ministry will prioritize filling vacancies using professionals currently in the teaching eligibility bank.

The adjustment will be coordinated by the Vice-Ministries of Teacher Accreditation and Certification and Planning and Development. Minister De Camps has also met with representatives from the Dominican College of Psychologists (Codopsi) and the Dominican Medical College (CMD) to coordinate institutional actions regarding student welfare and mental health policies.