Dominican Republic opens 2026-2027 school year amid protests

The Dominican Republic officially opened the 2026-2027 school year on Monday, August 24, with President Luis Abinader leading the ceremony at the Espejo La Milagrosa school in Santo Domingo Este, while Vice President Raquel Peña headed a parallel event in Santiago. The Ministry of Education projects a matrícula of 2,686,971 students across the pre-university system, with about 120,000 teachers in nearly 8,000 schools Source: El Día, Hoy.

What happened

President Abinader emphasized that the country's future to 2036 is built in classrooms, urging students to "aprender más y aprender mejor" Source: El Caribe. Vice President Peña highlighted the training of over 90,000 teachers and the addition of 1,500 new classrooms Source: El Caribe. The ministry also announced new initiatives, including mental health support with one psychologist per 150 students (previously 300) and a pilot program granting driver's learning permits to graduates Source: eldiado, listindiario.

The reaction

Despite official optimism, the start was marked by protests. Outside the presidential ceremony, members of the Colectivo Ciudadano por la Educación demanded salary increases for janitors and support staff, with one protester claiming 26 years of service and unfair dismissal Source: Diario Libre. The Asociación Dominicana de Profesores (ADP) had previously warned of infrastructure deficits and a shortage of spaces, estimating over 300,000 students without placements, a figure the ministry disputes Source: diariolibree. Minister Luis Miguel De Camps called for depoliticizing education, stating, "La educación no puede convertirse en un terreno donde cada diferencia política, gremial, sectorial, termine trasladándose a las aulas" Source: El Día.

What's next

The government pledges continued investment in infrastructure, while critics point to ongoing challenges in school conditions and teacher pay. The school year proceeds with the goal of improving learning outcomes and preparing students for future challenges Source: listindiario.