Lawmakers pact to squash Dominican Republic education push

The opposition PRSC party announced an agreement with the pro-government bloc led by the  PLD, to approve the bill of the 2011 Budget, which will not include the allocation of 4% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for education, as the Law stipulates.

In a press conference together with Senate president and PLD General Secretary Reinaldo Pared, PRSC spokesman Ramon Rogelio Genao said the pact “For a dignified and quality education” stipulates a gradual increase of the funds allocated to the education sector until reaching 5.5% of the GDP.

The agreement would pave the way for the bill of the 2011 Budget to cruise through the Chamber session which started at 1:30 p.m., from its original schedule 10 a.m., a delay prompted by the meetings between Pared, Chamber of Deputies president Abel Martinez and the PRSC deputies.

The development comes after several ruling party deputies voiced their support for the 4% campaign by voting against the piece, but according to reports, PLD leaders subsequently pressed them to tow the party line.

Outside Congress meanwhile a large crowd continues to tinge the area yellow, the color of the weeks long campaign being waged by the Dignified Education Coalition, to demand enforcement of the Education law.

Source: Dominican Today

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