It will affects 850,000 Dominicans
With the participation of many different sectors of society, more than 70,000 persons will begin this Monday the first cycle of the National Literacy Plan (Quisqueya learns with you), in order to overcome the condition of illiteracy which affects 850,000 Dominicans.
The formal beginning is set for 4:00pmin the NellyBiaggiSchool, in El Almirante in East Santo Domingo, and there will be simultaneous activities in all of the provinces of the country attended by the provincial and municipal authorities. They have still to confirm if the act in the province of Santo Domingo, the province with the most illiterates, will be headed by President Danilo Medina.
Distributed in 6,064 groups all over the national territory, persons 15 years old and older will have the opportunity at this time to learn to read and write, learn of their rights and duties as a citizen, and become persons more proactive, while the government tries to correct an old social debt.
The number of teachers-“alfabetizers” in government speak-could reach 7,000 because according to Pedro Luis Castellanos, the director general of Special Programs of the Presidency and Coordinator of the technical team of the Plan, still, as of yesterday, they were training the volunteers. University students and professionals in different areas, in the majority involved in education, are the ones responsible for guiding these people out of the darkness of illiteracy. They will have the convenience of continuing their primary studies on a flexible schedule and for adults only.
Castellanos spoke at a press conference offered yesterday in the Green Room of the Presidential Palace together with members of the National Literacy Board and of the National Technical Team of the Plan. He said that there will be special nucleuses for persons with limiting situations, such as the handicapped, the elderly and those in prison. He expressed his appreciation for the support received from the people, from the participating volunteers, the universities, churches, Lions Clubs, and other community entities and from several institutions. He made it clear that more teachers will continued to be trained for the next rounds. “Quisqueya learns with you” is going to try and erase illiteracy over the next two years in young people and adults and promote entrepreneurship.
Dominican Republic Live, From DT, 07.01.13, 12.45pm