Industrialists want major changes

[NewsWhore]

The Haina Industrial Association (AEIH) is proposing a new structure for the National Education Council, to include business representatives and people who are genuinely concerned about education. In their proposal the industrialists also suggest that whoever is appointed to the post of Minister of Education should not be affiliated to any political party in order to promote decisions through consensus and with the participation of all sectors. The proposal also suggests that the minister should be appointed for three years, with just one renewal, after an open and transparent review of performance on the job. The AEIH worked out the proposals with the upcoming presidential elections in mind, listing what they consider to be the major issues facing the nation. To that end, they recommended that the 2009 budget assign 4% of the GDP to education, and that this sum should be increased by 1% per year, up to 7% of the GDP. The industrialists pointed out that the ministry traditionally gets what it calls "budgetary charity", yet even some of this charity is siphoned off through transfers to other ministries.
Among other proposals made by the association are the de-politicization of the Dominican Teachers' Association, and the practice of submitting teachers to an evaluation process. Of course a major salary increase would come with such changes, and automatic promotions and overcrowded classrooms would be a thing of the past. They also proposed a full school day and more languages and sports. Even Drivers Ed would become a part of the curriculum.

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