Santo Domingo.-“What the President of the Republic is proposing is interesting, but the real problem lies in what will happen to the employees of the entities that he proposes to merge,” said Rafael Alburquerque, former Vice President of the Republic and current leader of the Fuerza del Pueblo Party, in relation to the Executive Branch’s proposal to unify the Ministries of Education (Minerd) and Higher Education, Science and Technology (MESCyT).
Alburquerque expressed his concern that this measure could be an attempt to divert part of the 4% of the budget allocated to Education to the financing of the MESCyT. “What the President of the Republic is proposing is interesting, but the problem is what will happen to the employees of the entities that he plans to merge,” he said, emphasizing the complexity of the situation.
The former vice president stressed that the roles of the ministries in question are completely different. In his opinion, the merger could do more harm than help, noting that, instead of improving the “very serious problem” facing education in the country, it could negatively affect what the Ministry of Higher Education has achieved in recent years.
Alburquerque also highlighted the success of the development of higher education in the Dominican Republic, arguing that this ministry not only controls, but regulates this crucial educational sector. His statement highlights the importance of maintaining the autonomy and specific functions of each ministry.
Although Alburquerque opposes the merger of the Education Ministries, he also acknowledged that there are other reform proposals in the Luis Abinader government plan that could be more acceptable, such as that of the Administrative Ministry of the Presidency. This suggests that not all reforms are viewed negatively, but they should be evaluated carefully.
In the case of the possible merger between the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development (MEPYD) and the Ministry of Finance, the former official said that it should be studied carefully, given that the previous separation was made at the request of economists, which adds a layer of complexity to the debate.
Rafael Alburquerque also referred to what he considers to be a tendency of the government to present itself as reformers. “There is a whim of the Government to present itself as reformers. I think that these reforms are more cosmetic; this is a government of show,” he said, showing his criticism of the current administration.
