Minister of Education says public school uniforms are free
Public school uniforms are for sale in major stores nationwide and had been sold in some public schools. The Ministry of Education had committed to provide two uniforms free to each student in public school. The uniforms are for public school children, with private schools having their own individualized uniforms.
The irregular sale at the public schools was known after Listin Diario reporter Karen Vasquez gathered evidence on her cell phone of the sale of the polo shirts for RD$500 each in the Pantoja public high school. Upon ascertaining that the reporter had videoed interviews confirming the sale at the school that would ruin her career, the director, Daris Feliz forcefully took the reporter’s smart phone after alleging the journalist had no right to make the videos at the school. She threatened to sue the journalist. Feliz had said on tape that the sale was authorized and was happening at the request of several parents. Feliz returned the smart phone only after she provided her password and the videos were wiped.
Parents in Santo Domingo public school district 15 had denounced the sale. The Ministry would announce the suspension of the director of the Pantoja public high school, for impeding the Listin Diario from doing her job and taking her smart phone. Francisco Disla, of the school district 15, apologized to the reporter for the incident, as reported in Listin Diario.
The Minister said: “It is important that every Dominican family that has children enrolled the public schools know that these uniforms are 100% free. It is important to note that everything that is delivered to students in public schools is free.”
Navarro said that he has authorized some schools to allow their students to attend wearing the old khaki pants with blue cotton shirt during the two months until the full order of new khaki pants and polo shirts in five colors are delivered.
“We have an unforeseen situation, which is that we have not been able to get the suppliers to deliver all of the uniforms before the start of the school year,” Navarro admitted. He argued that 50% was locally produced, due to a matter of installed capacity for production and the rest had to be imported.
He said the colors are being assigned to the five school districts. Students in Cibao Central will use the red wine color; those in the Cibao Norte, yellow gold; those in the South region, turquoise blue; those of the East, green polo shirts; and those in Greater Santo Domingo royal blue. He praised the quality of the polo shirts that are manufactured in 50% cotton and 50% polyester.
Public school reopens in the Dominican Republic on Monday, 20 August 2018.
Source: DR1, Elnacional
Aug 18, 2018
Category: DR News |