Los Alcarrizos Accelerates School Construction, Aims for 107 New Classrooms

LOS ALCARRIZOS, Dominican Republic – Officials in the municipality of Los Alcarrizos are accelerating school construction and renovation projects, aiming to deliver 107 new classrooms and dozens of refurbished ones by December after identifying some work stalled for years.

Following a comprehensive review of educational centers, the School Infrastructure Directorate (DIE) has ordered the expedited completion of these projects. The initiative is part of a larger plan to provide 361 new classrooms in the municipality, with 254 already inaugurated.

Roberto Herrera, director of the DIE, reported that the review uncovered school projects that had been halted since 2015. The current efforts prioritize urgent needs and represent an investment of 2.078 billion pesos in the area.

This funding will benefit 14,440 students and hundreds of teachers, positively impacting local education quality, social conditions, and the economy. An additional 200 million pesos has been allocated for corrective maintenance.

“Under the framework of Plan 24/7, we are here today to conduct this joint working session with local authorities, the mayor, the governor, parent associations, the ADP, and contractors,” Herrera stated. He emphasized that completing classrooms and ensuring preventive and corrective maintenance are priorities for President Luis Abinader’s administration, with close supervision from Minister Luis Miguel de Camps.

Mayor Junior Santos presented a three-year urban development plan for the territory, outlining the municipality’s classroom needs and proposing the construction of 10 polytechnic schools. He praised the Ministry of Education’s initiative and stressed the importance of adhering to President Abinader’s directives for unified government action.

Santos noted that some school projects from previous administrations were initiated on unplanned or unsuitable land, which has prevented their completion and now necessitates relocation for others.

Schools undergoing intervention by the DIE include Rudy María Comas Bautista, Amín Abel Hasbún Primary School, Las Mercedes Educational Center, and Juana Saltitopa, among others.

Lucrecia Santana Leyba, governor of Santo Domingo province, affirmed the government’s commitment to promptly address citizen demands, particularly regarding school classrooms. She asserted that this effort strengthens the national educational system by providing adequate spaces for the entire educational community.

The joint working session, held at the Los Alcarrizos Municipal City Hall, included Carlos Noé Zapata, DIE supervision manager; Carlos Martínez, DIE social empowerment manager; Osiris García, manager of tendered maintenance; Eddy Chávez, Regional Director 15 of the Ministry of Education; María Castillo, Director of School District 15-01; Génesis Santos, municipal president of the ADP; and representatives from social organizations and religious leaders.