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Abinader Urges Dominican Students to Prepare in English, Technology, and Values

News, PoliticsNelson SantanaComment

by ESENDOM
June 15, 2026

Lea en español: Abinader exhorta a estudiantes dominicanos a prepararse en inglés, tecnología y valores

President Luis Abinader met with high-achieving students from Educational Region 08 in Santiago, urging them to master English, use technology responsibly, strengthen their values, and prepare for future careers in areas such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, electronics, and electromechanics.

Key points

  • Abinader met with high-achieving students from Educational Region 08 at the Ana Josefa Jiménez Educational Center in southern Santiago.

  • He urged young people to master English, use technology responsibly, strengthen their values, and persevere.

  • The government highlighted investments in classrooms, laboratories, school transportation, and higher education.

  • Education Minister Luis Miguel De Camps announced advances in digital skills, computational thinking, and artificial intelligence.

  • Students raised concerns about infrastructure, scholarships, laboratories, transportation, and employment.

SANTIAGO. — President Luis Abinader on Saturday urged students to prepare themselves in English, technology, and values, during a lunch-conversation with high-achieving young people from Educational Region 08 held at the Ana Josefa Jiménez Educational Center in southern Santiago. There, representatives from various educational districts in the province shared their concerns about school infrastructure, transportation, scholarships, laboratories, technical workshops, and job opportunities.

"Knowing English is essential," the president said, noting that a second language opens doors to better jobs, higher education, and social mobility. The goal fits a country where tourism, international services, and the diaspora itself increasingly connect young people to global markets.

Abinader also called on students to take advantage of the internet and new technologies with critical thinking, at a time when social media, artificial intelligence, and disinformation are part of daily life. He added the importance of values-based education: he argued that technical knowledge is not enough without ethics, honesty, and civic responsibility. On the importance of not giving up, President Abinader stated: "Success depends on persistence. No matter the difficulties that arise, those who persevere and work with dedication have a greater chance of reaching their goals."

The head of state highlighted his government's investments in school infrastructure, technology, student transportation, equipping of educational centers, and the expansion of higher education. He recalled that when he took office there was no national student transportation program, and that today thousands of young people receive the free TRAE service. He also announced that around 1,600 new classrooms will be delivered nationwide by August, while work continues to complete centers that had been stalled. More than 60% of the country's polytechnic schools will be equipped with new equipment and laboratories, and numerous high schools will receive science and computer labs. The president also invited young people to take advantage of programs such as "Beca Tu Futuro" and to train in areas like cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, electronics, and electromechanics.

Education Minister Luis Miguel De Camps reported that the National Education Council approved the National Strategy for Education in Digital Skills, Computational Thinking, and Artificial Intelligence, which will be implemented starting the next school year. He also emphasized the training of teachers in AI and the preparation of students for high-demand fields.

As part of the event, the delivery of technological equipment to participants was announced. The welcome was given by student Aisha Marier Peras, who valued the opportunity for direct dialogue between young people and the authorities.

For Dominican youth, especially outside the capital, the message was clear: the future will demand academic preparation, digital fluency, bilingualism, and discipline. Education remains one of the most concrete paths to transforming lives, homes, and communities.