Ministry of Education, UNICEF and Plan International Join to Write Guide to Positive Discipline in the Classroom

Ministry of Education, UNICEF and Plan International Join to Write Guide to Positive Discipline in the Classroom
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 05/11/2011

On November 1st, Representatives of the Ministry of Education (MINERD),  Plan International and UNICEF marked the opening of No Family Violence Month by presenting the “Guide to Positive Discipline in the Classroom” to teachers at the Dominican Republic School in Villa Juana.

Minerva Pérez, director of Guidance, Psychology and Diversity at MINERD stated that the Guide was developed in schools in the southern region by the Ministry and Plan International …

The Guide was presented during an event in the school’s esplanade with hundreds of students, teachers, administrators and representatives of the three organizations in attendance. Also present were national and regional experts as well as representatives of the Association of Parents and Friends of the School.

Minerva Pérez, director of Guidance, Psychology and Diversity at MINERD stated that the Guide was developed in schools in the southern region by the Ministry and Plan International as part of the Learning Without Fear campaign. The Guide was reprinted with support from UNICEF.

Pérez stated that the Guide will reach 30,000 educators across the nation, providing strategies for improving self-esteem, managing school violence and instilling positive discipline in the classroom.

She noted that in order to guarantee the best use of the Guide, all public sector psychologists and guidance counselors had been trained to help teachers use it.

“We hope that, along with its focus on rules of coexistence and school discipline and other tools we have made available to schools, we can significantly improve the school environment and achieve better academic results,” she said.

Pérez said that creating a positive environment for academic achievement is a shared responsibility and that all members of the school community, and society at large, can work together to achieve this goal.

The event was led Dominga Comas Castillo, Director of Education for District 15-02. Mildred Feliú, director of the Dominican Republic School read a welcome speech. Clara Benedicto, National Advisor for Education of Plan International and Lissette Núñez, of UNICEF also spoke. A sixth grade student, Melody Chantel, said the Lord’s prayer.