Education in DR

A few things I've learned---

• 78% of students in DR do not graduate 8th grade
• Based on the Law of Education from 1997, the country should invest 4% of the GDP in education. In 2012, the government was investing 1.8%
• In 2013, one of the first measures by President Danilo Medina (one of the highest rated Presidents in the nation), was to allocate the full 4% for education.
• This brought about 496 new schools, 11,289 classrooms, 1, 468 repaired
• Recruitment of 6,000 teachers in 2013-14
• Increase of Salary of 20%
• In 2012 students went 3 1/2 hrs. In 2013- 8-4 p.m.
• No one had wanted to be a teacher, but now they wanted to-- though 
• Before 2012, didn't necessarily have to have certification or licensed (but still a lot of unqualified teachers)

Some Special Education Facts....

• Total Population of DR- 9, 445, 281
• Disabilities People- 1, 160,847 (12.3%)

Sped Centers  in DR

• Semi- Official- 9 (total in country)
• Centers for students with hearing/vision -17 total
• Private Schools for students with disabilities - 4 total in country
• Special Ed classrooms with regular schools 8 total in country