President Luis Abinader presented on Monday a series of technologies that the government has put at the service of basic education, to advance in science, mathematics and the arts.
The president affirmed that with the technology at the service of education provided by the government, the country can advance in employment, development and transformation.
2 million trained
The head of state said that proof of this is that, through the National Institute of Technical Professional Training (Infotep), there are currently 2 million trained and 67,000 graduates in technology programs.
He reiterated that in 2019 there were 7 centers and in 2023 there were 38 centers.
Educational Robotics
In this regard, he said that with the Educational Robotics Program, more than 17,638 science and robotics resources were delivered and 9,975 steam and robotics sets sent to classrooms.
He reported that the goal in 2024 is to achieve 1,780 new centers and impact 1 million students. “In 2019, 811 centers were equipped and in 2023, 4,102 were equipped.”
500,000 students benefited with steam methodology
President Abinader specified that through the Minerd, the inclusion of the steam methodology (for its singles in English science-technology-engineering-arts and mathematics) was carried out, which made it possible to benefit 500,000 students in the public system.
Training in robotics and steam methodology
Regarding this topic, he mentioned that 7,510 teachers were trained in educational robotics, 2,397 new teachers were included in the program in 2023, 5,113 teachers have been trained since 2020 to date and 32,000 teachers have been trained in technological resources.
Robotics camp
He explained that 5,000 students from the public system were benefited in 2023 with the robotics camps and that it had an investment of DR 37 million.
He argued that the average cost of a similar private camp was DR 40,000 p/p and that there was a direct saving to families of DR 200 million.
The president said that the goal for 2024 is to achieve 16,000 students throughout the country.
Open book platform
Speaking about the open book platform, he said that this platform avoided complaints from parents about children without books and that 220,901 books were downloaded from the link www.libroabierto.minerd.gob.do.
First Lego League (FLL)
The Chief of State pointed out that public education, at a technological level, is equal to private education, “sometimes superior, as is the case of its participation in First Lego League”.
He also added that it won 9 of the 16 prizes that were disputed in this event.
More demand and more extensions
Regarding the Instituto Tecnológico de las Américas (ITLA), he informed that there is currently more demand and more extensions. He highlighted that currently this entity has 5 new extensions and that there are 6 under construction.
He valued that 98% of ITLA graduates get jobs and that they earn an average salary of about DR 70,000.
He said that there are currently more than 10,000 applications for the scholarship program for education in: software, multimedia, mechatronics, cybersecurity, video games, information networks and data science.
Green economy
The president said that there are 97 programs whose transversal axis is technology, including agrotechnology focused on agro-robotics, RPA robotic process automation technician, renewable energies, electric mobility, RPA drone operation and assembly, installation of domotic systems, intelligent vehicle maintenance, and food technology and molecular cuisine.
Minister of Education
On his side, the Minister of Education, Ángel Hernández, informed that, as of today, the Ministry of Education has 2,950 schools connected by fiber optics.
“In each of these schools there is a virtual campus, which facilitates the implementation of hybrid education. This approach is available in 2,900 schools, benefiting more than 1 million 200,000 children.”
ITLA Director
In the same vein, ITLA Director, Omar Méndez, announced a strategic alliance with Indotel and the inauguration, scheduled for March, of a campus in Moca with 5 careers with capacity for more than 4,000 young people who will be able to access higher education.
Also planned is the opening of a new continuing education center in Monte Plata, also in March, and another extension in Pedernales, during the first week of February.
Méndez pointed out that, in the first four-month period, President Luis Abinader will inaugurate three additional extensions, adding up to a total of 8 new facilities in the country. Current enrollment of 6,000 students doubles the figure of 3,090 registered in 2020.
Enrollment capacity to 15,000
In addition, he reported that the government program seeks to have Moca and Santiago used as campuses, expanding enrollment capacity to 15,000, up from 3,090 in 2020. Technology education has been successfully integrated into the healthcare field, highlighting the ProtoScanner 3D project, backed by President Luis Abinader.
More than 378 prostheses
He added that ITLA has become a pioneer in offering free scanning and fabrication of prostheses, in collaboration with the Presidency of the Republic and SeNaSa. To date, more than 378 prostheses have been fitted, and the arrival of new 3D printers this year will allow the production of more than 500 prostheses, multiplying the capacity for positive impact.
In an effort to strengthen continuing education, President Luis Abinader has decided that, starting this year, it will be completely free of charge, benefiting municipalities and provinces throughout the country.
Source: Presidencia.gob.do
