On October 2, during Dominica’s official World Teachers’ Day commemoration, Education Minister Octavia Alfred delivered a heartfelt address centered on recognizing the indispensable role of teachers in national development while laying out a series of ongoing government initiatives to support the education workforce.
Alfred opened her remarks by emphasizing that the Ministry of Education does not limit its appreciation for educators to a single annual observance, noting that the sector’s contributions are celebrated every calendar day. She described teaching as the single most foundational profession for nation-building, explaining that the work of educators lays the invisible but critical bedrock for every other part of the country’s social and economic progress.
Over the past two years, the Dominican government has appointed nearly 400 new teachers to school staffs across the country, Alfred confirmed, adding that the hiring process remains active as the new academic year gets underway. Five additional educators have already received appointments for the 2025-2026 school year, she said.
Beyond new hiring, the administration has rolled out multiple concrete support measures for working teachers. All educators have received personal protective equipment and standardized first aid kits to support their safety in school settings. The government has also maintained a monthly $250 allowance for teachers to offset work-related costs.
Alfred highlighted ongoing structural reforms to improve working conditions across different education sub-sectors. The administration is currently conducting a comprehensive review of the early childhood education segment, with the goal of creating formal, established positions for early childhood educators that come with full benefits and job security. For the primary education sector, a wide-ranging job reclassification effort is already in its final stages, she confirmed.
A core principle guiding the government’s education policy work, Alfred stressed, is regular and meaningful engagement with teachers themselves. No education reform or transformation agenda can succeed without centering the input of the professionals who implement policy in classrooms every day, she argued. “We cannot speak of education transformation without investing in the transformers, you, our teachers,” she told the gathered educators.
Closing her address, Alfred extended sincere gratitude on behalf of the entire Dominican government to every teacher across the country. She acknowledged the often unrecognized extra work educators put in, from waking early for classes to staying late to support struggling students, and praised their consistent patience, passion, and commitment to young Dominicans. “Even if the foundation seems hidden, know that you are building up the nation,” she emphasized. She ended by reaffirming the government’s recognition of educators’ work and service, wishing teachers, schools, and the nation a happy World Teachers’ Day.