The Haitian student population has increased significantly in public schools in the five border provinces of the Dominican Republic over the past five years. During this period, the enrollment of Haitian students increased by 52.33%, while that of Dominican students decreased by 11.37%.

In the provinces of Dajabón, Elías Piña, Independencia, Montecristi and Pedernales, the number of Haitian students enrolled increased from 12,988 for the 2018-2019 school year to 19,785 for the 2022-2023 school year, according to statistics of the Dominican Ministry of Education (MINERD).

At the national level, the enrollment of Haitian students increased by 83.04%, consolidating this foreign nationality the most represented in the country's schools. In the border provinces, Haitian students represent a dominant proportion compared to other nationalities.

TOP 3 of the biggest increases :

Independencia : has ddddd experienced an increase, from 2,972 registered in 2018 to 4,471 (+50.4%) in 2023.

Montecristi : From the 2020-2021 school year, increase from 3,182 to 4,734 (+48.77%) students in 2022-2023.

Elías Piña : is the province with the largest number of Haitian students. In 2018, it had 4,426 students, a figure which increased to 6,202 (+40%) in 2023.

Ancell Shecker, Deputy Minister of Technical and Pedagogical Affairs of the Ministry of Education, stressed that the presence of foreign students in Dominican schools is a consequence of the migratory phenomenon. He recalled that the Dominican education system guarantees access to all, regardless of their immigration status.

MINERD Circular 14-2013, updated with 620-2023, establishes that lack of documentation cannot be an obstacle to student registration. However, at the end of pre-university education, identity documents are required for the school certificate, although students can complete the cycle without these documents.

SL/ HaitiLibre