Education Ministry Urges Public Institutions to Contribute to the Elimination of Illiteracy

Education Ministry Urges Public Institutions to Contribute to the Elimination of Illiteracy
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic  9/23/2011

M inister of Education, Josefina Pimentel, urged public institutions to do a diagnosis to determine how many of their employees do not have access to the written word in order to, along with the Ministry of Education (MINERD), contribute to the elimination of illiteracy that affects some 10% of the Dominican population. This project would help develop this necessary capacity among citizens.

Ms. Pimental made this request at the graduation ceremony of the Adult Literacy Program which graduated 75 employees of the Metropolitan Bus Service Office (OMSA in Spanish). She attended the ceremony, in which employees received their “Now I Can Read and Write” certificates …

Ms. Pimental made this request at the graduation ceremony of the Adult Literacy Program which graduated 75 employees of the Metropolitan Bus Service Office (OMSA in Spanish). She attended the ceremony, in which employees received their “Now I Can Read and Write” certificates, with OMSA Director, Ignacio Ditrén.

“A new world has opened up for all of you as you are now more fulfilled, complete, more secure with confidence in yourselves and in your futures which is a reason for joy, pride and satisfaction,” Minister Pimental told the graduates.

The Education Minister urged the OMSA employees to continue forward and to take advantage of the adult literacy and education programs offered by MINERD, such as the PREPARA program which provides an accelerated, 2-year high school diploma course that leads to adult university enrollment.

Mr. Ditrén also expressed his satisfaction with the results of the literacy program undertaken by the OMSA employees, which have already graduated three classes.

At the main table with Ditrén and the Education Minister was Luis Manuel Rosario, in charge of the Personnel Training and Development Department of OMSA and Santiago Holguín, the literacy teacher.

Student, Altagracio de la Rosa, gave a speech of appreciation. He talked about how his life changed the moment he learned to read and write, thanks to the initiative of the director of OMSA.

Education Minister, Josefina Pimentel, and OMSA Director Ignacio Ditrén, with the group of employees at their recent graduation from the literacy program known as the “Now I Can Read and Write.”