MINERD recognizes its former ministers for their contribution to Dominican education

MINERD recognizes its former ministers for their contribution to Dominican education
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, February 19, 2012

The Ministry of Education (MINERD) recognized a group of 19 former ministers who performed their duties during the past 45 years, for the contributionsand accomplishments they madeduring their administrations in favor of Dominican education. The ceremony, headed by the Minister of Education, Lic.Josefina Pimentel,was held at the Ministry’s headquarters.

In addition, former ministers Jaime Manuel Fernández, Julio César CastañosEspaillat and Julio Ibarra Ríos received a posthumous tribute.

Duringanemotionalceremony, MinisterPimentel recognizedtheformerMinisters of Education Víctor Justo Hidalgo, Víctor Gómez Bergés, Altagracia Bautista de Suárez, Leonardo Matos Berrido, PedroPorrello Reynoso, Andrés Rafael Reyes Rodríguez, Ivelisse Prats-Ramírez de Pérez, Pedro Caonabo Pichardo, José Nicolás Almanzar, Pedro Gil Iturbides, Jacqueline Malagón, José Andrés Aybar Sánchez, Ligia Amada Melo, Milagros Ortiz Bosch, Alejandrina Germán and Melanio Paredes.

In addition, former ministers Jaime Manuel Fernández, Julio César CastañosEspaillat and Julio Ibarra Ríos received a posthumous tribute.

During her keynote speech at the event, Lic.Pimentel said: “Today,in this place which is your home, I welcome with open arms those who like you one day had to push very hard and work painstakingly to make the right to education that belong to all the citizens of our country a reality, from the perspective of having full confidence in each of their potentials.”

She added that with their imprint, the honorees “have given the country the best of theirunblemished experience, their willingness, their capacity for work and planning, and have made invaluable contributions which have been consistent and in harmony with the cause that promotes the soundest values ??associated with service, solidarity and the unconditional surrender for the benefit of education.”

The Minister explained that the past 45 years were reviewed, “because during that period both the country and the institution attainedtheir greatest achievements in terms of democracy, freedom and progress. All have a history of fruitful work, without rest, without pause, supported and endorsed by the criteria associated with the complex processes of building equity and educational quality.”

Minister Pimentel, in her capacity as the current Minister ofEducation, visibly moved, recognized each one of those who, in their capacity as citizens, have considered education as a fundamental tool for development, contributing their ideasto society, their self-sacrifice and their willingness to bring education to children, adolescents, youth and adults with their signature style, and helping to overcome the difficulties of the system.

Upon receiving their scrolls of recognition, the former Ministers of Education Altagracia Bautista de Suárez, IvelissePrats-Ramírezde Pérez, José NicolásAlmánzar, Jacqueline Malagón and José Andrés Aybar Sánchez, thanked Minister Pimentel for the tribute and recalled part of their experiences when they held the position.

While delivering the acceptance speech on behalf of all the former Ministers of Education, Dr. Víctor Gómez Bergés, said that they received the recognition with humility.

He urged the promotion of more and better teachers and quoting the words of Lic. IvelissePrats-Ramírezde Pérez said “it is the appropriate way for redirecting youth and for achieving a decent education.”

He urged the promotion of more and better teachers and quoting the words of Lic. IvelissePrats-Ramírezde Pérez said “it is the appropriate way for redirecting youth and for achieving a decent education.”

“Thank you, distinguished Minister Josefina Pimentel, for this beautiful get-together, which serves to renew faith and hope,” stated Dr. Gómez Bergés.

As part of the ceremony, the profiles of each of the honorees that are contained in a book were read, and a video was screened about the authorities who have run the institution, all this in the presence of officers and members of the National Council of Education (CNE for its acronym in Spanish).

Former Ministers Andrés Rafael Reyes Rodríguez, AlejandrinaGermán, Ligia Amada Melo, Pedro Gil Iturbides, Leonardo Matos Berrido and Milagros Ortiz Bosch did not attendthe event for personal reasons.

The Los Niños de la Promesachoir of the Dominican Education Center, led by Professor Dominica Rosario, and the Grupo de Cámara of the Centro de Excelencia Repúblicade Colombia,had artistic performancesduring the event.

At the end of the ceremony the Gallery of the former ministers, located on the third floor of MINERD, was switched on.


The Minister of Education Lic. Josefina Pimentel, center, accompanied by 10 former Ministers of Educationwho, along with 9 others, were recognized for their contributions while they held the position.