Santo Domingo, DR. – The Dominican Association of Teachers (ADP) called to restore classes in Boca Chica after the teaching strike that affected more than 5,000 students and especially the Polytechnic Institute of Technology of the Americas (ITLA), as well as dozens of teachers, after the appointment of a director who was described as “arbitrary” by different sectors of the educational field.
The president of the ADP, Eduardo Hidalgo, clarified that the stoppage of teaching was not a decision agreed upon by the union’s National Executive Committee, but rather an autonomous action adopted by the Boca Chica branch. In addition, it was specified that classes have currently been restored in more than 50 centers with the exception of the ILTA polytechnic.
Hidalgo explained during an interview on the El Día program that the conflict arose as a result of the appointment of Teodosia Otaño as director of the center, carried out by the then rector of ITLA, Rafael Feliz García, without it having participated in a previous contest. In addition, he pointed out that the appointee already held a position in the Regional Directorate of Education, under whose jurisdiction the polytechnic was located, which generated disagreement among the teachers.
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According to the union leader, said appointment would have been made without the rector of ITLA having the legal powers to appoint teaching or administrative-teaching staff of the public pre-university system, in accordance with the provisions of the Law 66-97 and the Regulations of the Teacher’s Statute.
Given this situation, Hidalgo described the strike as an unnecessary impasse and reiterated that the ADP favors respect for current legal and administrative procedures. Likewise, he urged educational authorities to avoid competitions or appointments in areas that do not respond to the real needs of the system, and to focus appointments on priority subjects.
Finally, the president of the ADP reported that, after the cancellation by decree of the rector of the ITLA and the efforts made, a call was made to the Boca Chica branch to resume teaching, thus achieving the reestablishment of classes after the indefinite strike that kept the educational process at the center interrupted.
Argument used by the ADP after strike
The ADP specifically cited article 16 of the Teachers’ Statute, which establishes that admission to teaching or administrative-teaching positions must be carried out through competitive examination, following the legally established criteria and procedures.
As part of the approved resolutions, the assembly agreed to implement a plan of struggle in defense of legality, the demands of the ITLA Polytechnic Educational Center and better conditions for the educational process.
Likewise, an indefinite stoppage of teaching was declared at said center, which will continue until due process is respected in the appointment of its authorities.
