A startling educational crisis is unfolding for children with disabilities in the Dominican Republic, according to a recent UNICEF alert issued on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The agency’s analysis reveals a catastrophic 75% collapse in the number of disabled students served by the national education system, plummeting from 26,581 in 2016 to a mere 6,163 by 2019.
Beyond the enrollment crisis, foundational data from the Enhogar-Mics 2019 survey indicates that 10.1% of Dominican children aged 2-17 experience functional difficulties in at least one domain, with the figure rising to 11.3% for those aged 5-17. UNICEF officials attribute systemic failures partly to the absence of a comprehensive national disability registry, which critically undermines the development of targeted and effective inclusive policies.
Anyoli Sanabria, UNICEF’s interim representative, stressed that reliable statistical frameworks are indispensable for informed policymaking and for dismantling the persistent barriers to inclusion. The report further details compounded vulnerabilities facing these children, including severely restricted access to essential services, elevated risks during emergencies, and a heightened susceptibility to abuse and isolation. Caregiving burdens, which fall disproportionately on women and girls, were also cited as a significant concern.
In a move toward remediation, UNICEF confirmed that the Enhogar-Mics 2025 survey is currently in progress. This updated data collection aims to refine key indicators, pinpoint enduring gaps, and ultimately galvanize efforts to fortify inclusion frameworks for the nation’s most vulnerable youth.