SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic – The Dominican government is launching a comprehensive RD$2.026 billion initiative to upgrade 496 schools across the nation, officials announced. The plan, which involves a mix of public tenders and lotteries, aims to complete corrective maintenance on the facilities by early 2026.
The School Infrastructure Directorate (DIE), in coordination with the Dominican College of Engineers, Architects, and Surveyors (Codia), detailed the widespread intervention as part of its “Plan 24/7-365.”
The investment includes RD$1.2 billion to be awarded through lotteries, managed in coordination with Codia. Another RD$826 million will be distributed via competitive bidding. The initiative seeks to maintain schools, high schools, and polytechnic centers year-round, ensuring optimal conditions for students, faculty, and staff, thereby strengthening the national education system.
Roberto Herrera, director of the DIE, emphasized that engineering professionals and contracting firms would be selected through transparent, legally compliant bidding and lottery procedures. He noted that the selection process followed an extensive survey of technical personnel, conducted in collaboration with various educational and community organizations. These include the Dominican Association of Professors (ADP) and the Association of Parents, Mothers, and Friends of the School (Apmae), alongside regional and district education directors.
During a press conference at the School Infrastructure Directorate, Herrera stated the project is a direct directive from President Luis Abinader and will be supervised by Education Minister Luis Miguel De Camps. He explained it forms part of a strategic government plan to resolve existing maintenance issues and transition towards a system focused solely on preventive care. This shift, he added, aims to provide greater peace of mind for the Dominican Republic's educational community.
“Today, we announce to the country, and especially to the educational community, the launch of the 24/7-365 Corrective Maintenance Plan and a major bidding and lottery process,” Herrera told reporters. “We will intervene in 496 school facilities identified as the highest priority, to which we, as a government, must respond. These are concrete steps and actions, directed by our President Luis Abinader and supported by Education Minister Luis Miguel De Camps, to address the most urgent needs in school infrastructure.”
Engineer Enrique Rosario, president of Codia, thanked Herrera for initiating these processes. He highlighted that the project would benefit more than 50,000 members of the professional guild and significantly improve physical spaces for learning and teaching.
“On behalf of the Dominican College of Engineers, Architects, and Surveyors (Codia), I thank Engineer Roberto Herrera Polanco of the School Infrastructure Directorate for accepting our request and carrying out this lottery,” Rosario said. “This will benefit more than 50,000 members of the College, a request we made in September 2025, and today we have favorable results.”
The directorate, supported by President Abinader and Minister De Camps, has for the first time systematically tackled the classroom deficit and widespread deterioration in hundreds of schools nationwide, according to the announcement. Officials highlighted that this focus on efficiency and transparency defines the current administration's approach to school infrastructure.
For 2026, the DIE has set a target to deliver more than 2,400 new classrooms. It plans to continue the 24/7 initiative, working 365 days a year to further reduce the deficit in educational spaces and carry out essential corrective maintenance, which officials deem a cornerstone of the nation's education system.
Other officials attending the press conference included César Ramírez, DIE Maintenance Manager; Osiris García, Bidding Maintenance Manager; Carlos Zapata, Administration Works Unit Manager; Carlos Martínez, Social and Community Empowerment Manager; and Vargavila Riverón, DIE Communications Manager. Also present were Nelson Colón, president of Codia's Civil Engineers Council, and George Richardson, Codia's general secretary.