The reason for no progression is because on no change. Lesley D explained it pretty well and of the list she presented I would have to say that outdated curriculum and lack of supplies are the biggest factors. As the majority of the children here go to public school then public school is what I'll talk about.
Having a child in public school has kept me busy in watching what goes on in his school and with what the Dept of Ed says. I can assure you that the present curriculum is waaaaay out of date and because of that the students are not being taught those things that would truly help them in their education and I believe this is one of the reasons they lose interest in school. Even with the present curriculum if the children don't have the necessary supplies to write with or on then how can a child really learn? If the teacher doesn't have chalk to write with how can she teach?
A number of people complain that the government doesn't supply enough money for education and I will state that more money will do virtually nothing to help educate the children. All more money will do is make the present thieves richer. If the present monies supplied were to be spent on education, without any filling pockets, then I think you would see an adequate amount of supplies. Here is one of many examples;
http://www.hoy.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=44118
Remember that article last year about the school director that had a teaching role assigned to her pet dog? I know she had to be laughing each month as she walked to the bank to cash her check and the check for her dog!
A considerable amount of time ago I mentioned how at days end there are a lot of janitorial personnel leaving the schools here in El Seybo with their arms full of rolls and cartons of milk. This happens everyday and I don't think that this happens in El Seybo only. These are supplies purchased by the Dept of Ed for the school children. Is this habit good or bad? Do these stolen supplies/money have any effect on our childrens education? If a school were to report a true number of students attending then wouldn't the government be saving more of the taxpayers money to be used elsewhere?
Because of all the corruption within all facets of the DR more money will not help the problem and I think Leonel knows this. Too many times he has stated how important education is for the children and this country. If corruption is a big culprit within the education system what can the president do to rid this demon? I don't think he can do anything as he hasn't been able to rid it in the houses of the legislative branch, judiciary branch or the executive branch.
So what can presently be done to help ALL the children and not a selected few? I say the first positive step is by changing the teaching curriculum. Who can make the necessary changes? The Secretary of Education has that sole power to change it as dictated to her in Ley 66-97, Articles 70, 63 and 64.
http://www.jmarcano.com/mipais/cultu.../leyeduca.html
In my opinion that is where the first pressure should be applied instead of crying, moaning and groaning. I have tried for three years to apply pressure but to be honest with all of you they don't give a chit what a foreigner has to say. We need Dominicans to get this ball rolling.
Off subject but a very interesting article in USA Today concerning adult literacy in the USA. I bring this to light because of the mention of Hispanics in the article and Dominicans in the USA are categorized as being part of the Hispanic population there.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/usatoday/200...cenglishskills
Rick