Escala raises the need for educational credits for university education

Santo Domingo.- The rector of Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC), Miguel J. Escala, presented the conference “Educational Credit from the Optics of Universities: needs and financing alternatives”, as part of the discussion forums of the National Development Strategy and organized by FUNDAPEC and the Bonó Center.

Escala raised the need to address the issue of financing in universities in a double perspective: make sure to ensure the freedom of access of students with special conditions and low economic resources, and facilitate their immersion.

The rector of INTEC said that UASD students, although they pay low-cost tuition, need financing to dedicate most of their time to their studies. In case the students wish to study in a private university, the credit would be the necessary support for it.

"The financing in addition to facilitating the access and immersion in the studies, is a necessary input to ensure the quality", said Escala, who also considered necessary the educational credit fund aimed at students with preferential rates and subsidized conditions. He also advocated compliance with the provisions of the 139-01 Law on Higher Education to establish a revolving fund for financing universities to make the necessary investments in their facilities, equipment purchases, etc.

Miguel J. Escala highlighted the importance of the National Fund for Innovation and Scientific and Technological Development (FONDOCyT), of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology to develop scientific research in the country. "For five consecutive years, millions of pesos have been awarded to researchers who have been openly summoned in competitions."

Finally, he recalled that the law also provides for the creation of a Guarantee Fund to further facilitate access to educational credit. If these initiatives were carried out or strengthened, he said, it would contribute to the consolidation of a superior quality system that responds to the needs of the nation's development, as contemplated by the 2010-2030 National Development Strategy.