Duvergé.–President Luis Abinaders held a luncheon meeting this Friday with students from high schools, polytechnics and colleges, during which he listened to their main needs and arranged the development of a special plan to address the school infrastructure of the Independencia province, in addition to coordinating the evaluation of an Experimental High School of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD) in Jimaní.

When referring to the experimental high school, the president announced that he will coordinate with the new rector of the UASD the evaluation of this initiative that seeks to strengthen the educational offer for the young people of the Independencia province. Likewise, he instructed the preparation of a special plan to meet the needs of school infrastructure in the province, including the construction and expansion of educational centers.

During the meeting, President Abinader also highlighted the development opportunities that the construction of the Duvergé-Pedernales highway will bring to the region, whose tender he announced will be held soon, and explained that this will allow a more direct connection between both provinces and will help the inhabitants of Independencia to take advantage of the opportunities that the tourist and economic development of Pedernales will generate. “After Pedernales, Independencia will be one of the most “benefited,” stated the president, urging young people to prepare to access the jobs, entrepreneurship and productive activities that will arise with the growth of the Southern region.

President Abinader pointed out that the expansion of tourism development will generate new employment, entrepreneurship and production opportunities for young people and producers in the region, which is why he urged them to prepare academically and technically to take advantage of them. In that sense, he stated that, after Pedernales, Independencia will be one of the provinces most favored by the economic boost that is projected for the south of the country.

When addressing young people, President Abinader recommended that they always act ethically in the exercise of the profession they choose. He explained that, for this reason, the Government reintroduced the subject of Morals and Ethics, considering that no professional preparation fulfills its purpose if it is not accompanied by values, justice and responsibility to society.

The president gave as an example that it is of no use to have a good doctor who recommends unnecessary procedures to obtain economic benefits, nor with an engineer who fails to comply with structural codes and puts people's safety at risk. “The most important thing is that you assume your profession, whatever you are going to practice, with ethics,” he expressed.

Likewise, he urged students to learn English, pointing out that this knowledge allows them to access higher quality jobs and expands their possibilities for professional development. He reported that, with the modification of the Education Law, the Government seeks to facilitate the incorporation of other teachers of English and technical areas, especially in polytechnics.

President Abinader told the students that the objective of this meeting is to learn their opinions on education in general, the needs of their respective schools or high schools, and also on the general situation of their communities.

“It is an exchange for us to explain the Government's position and, at the same time, learn out loud and directly the needs of each of their schools, high schools and communities, also to take note and proceed as quickly as possible in the face of problems that arise,” said President Abinader.

After listening to the needs raised by the students, the head of state assured that the Government will follow up on each of the requirements and asked the director of School Infrastructure, Roberto Herrera, to present a report for the next meeting of the Construction Cabinet.

At the event, accompanied by the Minister of Education, Luis Miguel De Camps, and the director of School Maintenance and Infrastructure, Roberto Herrera, the president handed out laptop computers to the students and participated in the official photograph along with the young people.

During the exchange, the students raised needs related to strengthening educational infrastructure, expanding spaces for teaching and technical-professional training, continuing to improve technological equipment and creating greater training opportunities and access to employment for young people in the Independencia province.

They also requested to continue promoting projects that allow expanding educational coverage, strengthening the academic offer of polytechnics and improving the conditions in which they receive teaching in different centers in the province.

Inafocam will intervene in Regional 18 to improve the preparation of teachers

When responding to the students' concerns, the Minister of Education, Luis Miguel De Camps, explained that the Government is working to strengthen school infrastructure, the training of teachers and the provision of materials and equipment, and took the opportunity to inform that Inafocam will intervene in Regional 18 to improve the preparation of teachers, and announced that during June and July the installation of equipment will begin in more than 330 polytechnics in the country.

Likewise, he indicated that robotics equipment will be renewed and science and computer laboratories will be equipped, including centers in Duvergé and Jimaní.

He added that the Government promotes citizen training, student leadership and volunteering programs, and advances financing facilities and scholarships for young people to continue their higher education. And, in terms of infrastructure, he noted that a specialized executing unit was created to accelerate interventions in educational centers, including the construction and completion of school roofs in the region.