The Dominican Association of University Rectors (ADRU) asked today to the Government to resume the dialogue to reach a consensus about him merger project of the ministries of Education (Minerd) and of Higher Education, Science and Technology (Mescyt).
He argued that this piece contains formulations that generate legal ambiguity and could affect the full exercise of university functions.
In a document sent to the media, he expressed that the merger project subjected to National Congress does not reflect the technical contributions of the working commissions created by the Executive power to enrich it. The entity presided over by the priest Isaac García de la Cruzrector of the Northeastern Catholic University (UCNE)stated that the participation of technicians in this discussion process guarantees the legitimacy and the relevance of the eventual reform what the merger entails.
The new minister of Mescyt seeks consensus for the merger in compliance with the presidential mandate
“Although the bill enunciates it, introduces formulations that generate legal ambiguity and could affect the full exercise of university functions“, expressed the institution that brings together 30 public and private universities. “The ADRU maintains that said university autonomy must be clearly protected and harmonized with mechanisms of accountability and quality assurance”, he indicated.
Worry
The rectors’ organization said that another point of worry is he governance model proposed, because it eliminates the National Council of Education and the National Council of Higher Education, Science and Technology (CONESCYT) as the highest decision-making bodies of the minerd and of Mescyt.
“The suppression of National Council of Education and of CONESCYTand its replacement by a advisory bodyweakens the democratic governance of the educational system and concentrates decisions in a single instance,” the organization added.
About the quality of the Dominican educational systemthe ADRU expressed the need to clearly separate the functions of regulation, assessment and accreditation of both ministries. In this sense, he proposed the creation of a autonomous accreditation agency for the higher educationaccording to international standards.
a decision
This week, the new minister of Mescyt, Rafael Santos Badiastated that he was appointed to the position with the mandate of the president Luis Abinader Corona to drive the merger of the two ministries.
“The president wants the merger and he wants it soon; he asked me as a immediate task“said the state official during an interview on a television program.
Santos Badiaa renowned union, teacher and political leader, stated that he has met with organizations and party leaders in search of consensus around the project, submitted to National Congress for him Executive power on December 11, 2025 and which is studied by a legislative commission.
Last week he met with rectors of 59 universities and institutes of higher and technical education of the country, with the objective of presenting a structural transformation path of the system education in the Dominican Republic.
