Dominican Deputies Advance Mandatory Civic Education Bill

The Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of the Dominican Republic’s Congress, approved on first reading a bill that would require Moral and Civic Education to become part of the national pre-university curriculum.

The measure would apply to both public and private schools and is intended to strengthen students’ ethical, civic and citizenship education as part of their overall development. Because the bill has only cleared its first reading, it remains part of the legislative process and is not yet law.

A Combined Proposal on Moral and Civic Education

The legislation brings together two separate initiatives considered by the Chamber’s Permanent Education Committee. The proposals were submitted by lawmakers Jorge Manuel Zorrilla González and Liz Adriana Mieses Díaz, prompting the committee to merge them into a single initiative.

The resulting proposal establishes the mandatory teaching of Moral and Civic Education as an integral component of the pre-university curriculum. Its stated objective is to reinforce ethical and civic formation among students while contributing to broader citizenship development in Dominican society.

If ultimately enacted, the measure would establish a nationwide requirement affecting the country’s education system rather than leaving the subject to individual schools or educational programs.

Deputies Also Approve Infrastructure Requests

During Tuesday’s session, lawmakers also approved two groups of internal resolutions submitted by members of different political caucuses. The resolutions seek various public works and services from the authorities responsible for addressing them.

The measures included requests for the construction of municipal markets, schools and prisons, as well as school equipment, bridges and roads. They formed part of the Chamber’s 83rd and 84th groups of internal resolutions processed under procedures designed to speed consideration of initiatives that already have reports.

Lawmakers also released the 85th group of internal resolutions from further reading and committee consideration before leaving it on the table for subsequent action.

Chamber Pays Tribute to Former Lawmakers

The session also included a minute of silence in memory of former Hato Mayor lawmaker Orlando Mazara and Tony Polanco Uceta.

At the close of Tuesday’s legislative work, Chamber President Alfredo Pacheco called lawmakers to return for another session on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m.