Ministry of Education’s Comprehensive School Safety Plan

Ministry of Education’s Comprehensive School Safety Plan
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 1/20/2012

The Ministry of Education (MINERD in Spanish) is working to define a Comprehensive School Safety Plan with the goal of preserving lives, property and the integrity of the resources that oversee and manage the institution.

In order to put this plan into effect, MINERD held its first workshop last Friday on the topic of comprehensive safety. Overseen by Education Minister Josefina Pimentel, the workshop was attended by professionals and directors of various educational departments.

In order to put this plan into effect, MINERD held its first workshop last Friday on the topic of comprehensive safety. Overseen by Education Minister Josefina Pimentel, the workshop was attended by professionals and directors of various educational departments.

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Minister Pimentel urged education officials to assume the task of school safety as a central issue. She pointed out that the education system represents the largest infrastructure in the country with 6,000 school buildings serving 2.7 million children and adults in addition to teaching staff and administrative personnel.

The Minister suggested that when MINERD’s School Building and Maintenance offices are constructing new schools, they take into account such criteria as land evaluation and the incorporation of earthquake-proof building norms as well as fortifying and strengthening prevention plans in schools that are already in operation.

As part of the workshop, organized by the Impact Program of the Deputy Ministry for Technical and Pedagogical Services, they reviewed the institution’s strategies in dealing with risk, health, relationship to the environment, prevention of violence, computer and document confidentiality and data protection.

In addition, they defined the objectives, content, basic methodology and actions used to develop a fundamental strategy for managing school safety in the general educational system.

Others who spoke at last Friday’s activity included Milagros Yost, advisor for the Participation Organizations; Ligia Henríquez, Program Director for the organization, Impacto; Casilda Dávila, program technician and Betania Leger, who talked about the components of a policy and comprehensive strategy.


Minister of Education, Josefina Pimentel, speaking to professionals and department directors at the school safety workshop held on Friday January 20, 2012.