Education Minister Announces Authorization of 1,500 Spots for Graduates from English Immersion Program

Education Minister Announces Authorization of 1,500 Spots for Graduates from English Immersion Program
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 11/15/2013

Education Minister, Carlos Amarante Baret, announced the authorization of 1,500 spots for English teachers and the same number of students graduated from the English Immersion Program for Competitiveness being undertaking by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology and the Center for Exportation and Investment (CEI-RD).

These spots will be added to the already existing 3,500 offered by Dominican President Danilo Medina, who headed the IX Graduation Ceremony of the language program through CEI-RD Director, Jean Allan Rodríguez. The idea is to stimulate and reward the effort of university students who have completed their English language studies.

These spots will be added to the already existing 3,500 offered by Dominican President Danilo Medina, who headed the IX Graduation Ceremony of the language program through CEI-RD Director, Jean Allan Rodríguez. The idea is to stimulate and reward the effort of university students who have completed their English language studies.

Those interested in the program must take a civil service test in which they need to show certain skills and knowledge of the English language.

“In the Ministry of Education we have a huge lack of English teachers and we want to, as a graduation gift and to others who want or have the vocation and fulfill the educational process, we are going to have a contest in January and February in which we will open up 1,500 spots for English teachers, which means all of you,” said the Minister to an enthusiastic crowd who applauded vigorously at the Minister’s words.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ligia Amada Melo de Cardona as Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology (MESCyT) who gave the main speech at the event, said that this year the program has been set up in 70 schools located in 25 provinces around the country as well as the National District, and with these graduates, the numbers are up to 46,600.

She explained that the training is free of charge and is part of a national scholarship program offered by the MESCyT.  It is being carried out in public and private universities, English language learning centers as well as centers administrated by the Ministry.

Graduates at the ceremony last Friday were from schools around the country and the National District.

At the ceremony, 26 students received certificates of recognition directly from President Medina, Minister Melo de Cardona and the Program’s Director, Milta Lora.

Others present included the Minister of Sports, Jaime David Fernández Mirabal and Radhamés Mejía, Rector of APEC University, among other personalities.

The English Immersion Program for Competitiveness was designed by the MESCyT and the CEI-RD in 2004 for young Dominicans of limited financial resources with the goal of increasing the country’s competitiveness in the national market through the training of human resources and to contribute to the increasing of quality of higher education.