Inter-institutional dialogue begins for the implementation of the Framework strategy for continuing teacher training

Inter-institutional dialogue begins for the implementation of the Framework strategy for continuing teacher training
Puerto Plata, February 4, 2014

The Viceministry of Technical and Educational Services of the Ministry of Education (MINERD) and the National Institute for Teacher Education and Training (INAFOCAM) met with the universities already committed to the implementation of the new Framework for continuing training -Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC) and Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM)-, in order to discuss various aspects related to the operational and interagency coordination of this initiative. The meeting took place on Wednesday, January 29th, 2014, at INAFOCAM’s meeting room.

The strategy of the Framework for continuing training, whose implementation is expected to take place gradually in the various educational regions of the country, suggests that the staff of each school should participate in educational processes that support the achievement of the goals of their improvement plans, in particular, the learning outcomes, with the articulated support of a university and the respective school district, under the coordination of MINERD and INAFOCAM, in line with shared approaches and mediations.

During the introduction to the activity, teacher Denia Burgos, Executive Director of INAFOCAM, thanked the attending guests for their active participation during the consultations that took place in 2013 across the country, to seek consensus regarding the new continuing teacher training strategy.
Teacher Denia Burgos, Executive Director of INAFOCAM, recalled that the continuing training Framework is a strategy focused on the school as a whole, aimed to make teachers’ permanent training effective in the country, so that it can ultimately be reflected in the learning outcomes of the Dominican pupils.

She also expressed that MINERD and INAFOCAM expect that the universities that are committed to the implementation of the Framework, articulate their plans and action during the implementation of this continuing training initiative, with a view to achieving comprehensive results.

In this regard, teacher Carmen Sánchez, Director General of Curriculum, said that the Framework for continuing training unifies the various sectors that are directly and indirectly involved in the life of the Dominican teacher. She stated that “it is a very timely process of co-responsibility”.

During the dialogue, representatives of MINERD and INAFOCAM listened to the technical and operational details presented by the teams of the areas of Education of the Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC) and the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM), who also thanked for the opportunity to have in the country the systemic perspective provided by the Framework for continuing training.

While presenting the strategy designed by the university to support the schools of the Educational District 15-04, teacher Héctor Martínez, representing the INTEC, considered that the need for supporting the schools and the teachers stems from the complexities inherent to the contexts in which teachers operate today. Therefore, they propose a “localized support“, where the university goes to the school (and not vice versa) so that the strategy of the Framework for continuing training can become a shared project in each school community.

He also noted that the training of in-service teachers cannot be conducted outside its specific context. Thus, it depends, at the moment, on its school district and school, and the university should contribute to strengthen their respective capacities.

Meanwhile, teacher Dulce Rodriguez, representing PUCMM and responsible for providing support to schools in District 10-01, said that the new initiative for continuing teacher training enhances and integrates the extensive prior experience of support from the participating universities. She also stated that this allows them to address their plans in a systemic and very organized way, while it provides them the concept and roadmap to define the strategy that they will promote.

After the presentations by the universities, the attending members of the MINERD delegation asked questions and raised concerns in regard to making the implementation process more operational. In order to effectively coordinate the various supports that come together in the schools to benefit each school community, the group emphasized the importance of sharing the necessary resources and agendas, strengthening the strategic plans of the participating school regionals and districts.

During the activity, the previously mentioned attendees were joined by other representatives from the Ministry of Education, INAFOCAM, INTEC, and PUCMM.