The Education System in Dominican Republic

The education system in the country is consisting of 3 main levels: primary, secondary, and higher. Education is free and mandatory from ages 5 to 14. Preschool is not mandatory and were presented in some areas. The different categories of secondary school are sixyear liceo (bachillerato certificate will be given after completion), polytechnics, teacher training and vocational schools. The Secretariat of State for Education and Culture oversees the entire primary and secondary schools. There are most likely 5,684 primary and 1,664 secondary schools.

Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo (UASD) is the oldest university in Latin America and it was established in 1538 by Pope Paul II. Even though the university’s management was independent, the government is responsible for all financial resources. This facilitated the UASD to tender free courses to all registered students. Universidad Technologica de Santiago is the leading private university and it was created in 1972 with 21,353 students. A public expense in education was likely at 2.2% of GDP as of 1999. Almost 176,995 students were registered in the institution of higher education. The vocational training program aims at ages between 14-17 years old. The program offered challenges since that vocational education institution in the country require a fundamental education certificate for admission.

Some of the universities in the country include Altenativa Medicina, Autónoma de Santo Domingo, Católica Nordestana, Católica Tecnológica del Cibao, Central del Este, Central Dominicana de Estudios Profesionales, Domínico-Americana, Experimental Félix Adam, Federico Henríquez y Carvajal, Interamericana, Nacional Evangélica, Nacional Tecnológica, Odontológica Dominicana, Tecnológica de Santiago, and Ulises Francisco Espaillat among others.