* As part of its fundamental commitment to foster a safe environment for students and sanction inappropriate actions in the educational community, the Ministry of Education of the Dominican Republic (Minerd) suspended and dismissed 32 teachers from the school for sexual harassment during the past school year 2023-2024.
According to the records of the Labor Dispute Resolution Division of the General Directorate of Management Human Of the Minerd, the highest number of cases occurred in the National District, Regional 15, with 8; in Cotuí, Regional 16, with 5; in La Vega, Regional 06, with 5 and in Santiago, Regional 08, with 4.
Of the 32 teachers dismissed from public schools for sexual harassment, eight were dismissed due to the seriousness of the accusations and the remaining 24 are suspended without pay while the investigation is completed. Currently, there are six teachers under judicial action.
The dismissals and suspensions occurred after the Minerd found that the teachers violated the Code of Ethics that regulates the Relations between Teaching Staff and Administrative with the Students of the Pre-University Education System.
Approved by Departmental Order No. 13-2023, the Code of Ethics establishes that the relationships between school staff and students must be academic and formative, while prohibiting any relationship that has a nature other than the comprehensive development of students.
The measures also comply with article 84 of Law 41-08, numerals 4,14,17 and 20 of Function Publicwhich establishes that this type of act constitutes a third-degree offense, the commission of which will lead to dismissal from office.
Other violations committed due to their inappropriate conduct are linked to breaches of the General Education Law 66-97, the Teaching Statute and the Constitution of the Republic in its articles 44 and 56 on the right to privacy and honor of the person, as well as the protection of minors, respectively.
