The construction of national development is not an exclusive task of the State, but is the result of the sum of wills where citizens, society, public and private institutions converge, in the search for collective well-being.
Universities as part of the educational system of a country have the sacred mission of training professionals from pre-university education who will contribute their knowledge to contribute to the progress of a nation; likewise, to research, to the debate of ideas and innovation; and, as the school deteriorates, the same happens with the universities.
The school as the center of public policies
The quality of education is a vital element to achieve the full development of a nation. Therefore, it is a commitment of the State to interpret Rousseau’s thought in his book the social contract, when a boy or a girl is born two potential parents are visualized; that is to say, educators, it is for this reason that when the deterioration of the educational systems is undermining the fundamental institution of a nation that is the family, a negative and disturbing impact is generated to obtain citizens with the values, capacities and competences necessary to be trained in the different areas of knowledge and consolidate the welfare state.
The deterioration of the educational system produces a vicious circle in society that destroys family foundations; consequently, the first trainers are lost, because the school is an extension of the family, it has a negative impact on the training of different professionals; therefore, we have teachers without the skills or the values or the social commitment of what it means to be a teacher. Bringing with it various consequences that affect peaceful coexistence.
In our country, before the pandemic, quality education was a challenge, post-pandemic reform of the educational system is urgent; For this reason, the World Bank, UNESCO and UNICEF report states that 4 out of 5 children do not understand what they read, to this is added school dropout and violence in schools, an effect largely associated with social networks.
Necessary Reforms
One of the most important challenges that the Dominican educational system has is to understand what is necessary, transcendental and fundamental, which is Physical Education for the improvement of education. By implementing a true program of Physical Education and Physical Activity, and early education, at 3 years of age, as established by the National Development Strategy Law 1-12, our country can head down the paths of improving the quality of education, placing the school as the center of public policies.
In the 21st century, it is believed that the Physical Education teacher is a physical trainer and a sports coach. However, they are three different professionals. In most cases, Physical Education teachers do not have the necessary skills to shape our future citizens, and their presence in educational facilities is precarious.
Physical Education is the soul of the school, and constitutes low-cost public policies with multiple benefits, which build the foundations to improve the broad negative indicators that we have in our country, in terms of education, and would impact school dropout, pregnancy premature, inequality, violence and other ills that afflict society today.
Dominican Republic has achieved universalization and access to education. We have an extended batch, and a number of educational venues, which reflects progress.
In order to have a society with social justice and equity, it is necessary to adopt the phrase of the United States Supreme Court Justice, Sonia Sotomayor, that until equality in education arrives, we will not have an egalitarian society. The school is the basis for building a fairer society, but above all a more humane one.