Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced a $12.5 million dollar follow-on and expansion of the USAID Effective School Program during a visit to the Rosa Duarte Public Elementary School in the Dominican Republic on Friday, April 17.
This new five-year $12.5 million dollar project will increase the number of schools participating and provide a full range of programming (reading, writing, math, and school administration) to 450 public schools in the Dominican Republic. This project is fully supported by the Ministry of Education and will be implemented by USAID partner Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM).
The Effective School Program will train first through fourth grade teachers in improved methodologies and better use of available materials and classroom time. Additionally, it supports improved school management by increasing the capacity of school administrators and the community to participate in the shared responsibility of educating children.
During the visit, Secretary Clinton accompanied by the Dominican Minister of Education, Melanio Paredes and PUCMM Rector, Monsignor Agripino Núñez Collado, and School Principal Sister Victoria Cruz toured the school facilities. The Secretary had the opportunity to meet with teachers and students and important local authorities.
Carly Esther Peralta, a second grade student, read a story to Secretary Clinton. This story will be included in the next Edition of the Storybook published by the program.
