Dominican Republic educational policy reforms

The Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Education (MINERD) has introduced new regulatory and structural initiatives. In August 2026, the ministry implemented Departmental Order 11-2026 to regulate mobile device use in public and private schools for the 2026-2027 school year. Wilson Mateo, Director of Educational Informatics at MINERD, noted the measure is not a total ban but an effort to ensure devices are used for “pedagogical purposes.” The policy restricts device use in initial and primary levels and establishes strict privacy protocols requiring authorization for teachers to post student imagery on social media.

By September 2026, the ministry expanded its focus toward administrative reform through the “Voces de la Descentralización: escuchar para transformar” project. Part of the 2025-2028 Roadmap, this initiative aims to decentralize decision-making by fostering dialogue between authorities and local school communities. The project includes the establishment of Dialogue Tables, an Educational Citizen Oversight System, and a Continuous Improvement Laboratory to increase transparency and incorporate community-specific needs into educational management.