INTEC and Inafocam strengthen teacher training in gender and educational equality
The cohorts from Santo Domingo and San Francisco de Macorís evaluated their first term and reaffirmed their commitment to building more inclusive and equitable school spaces.
SANTO DOMINGO – With the aim of reflecting on the challenges of inclusive education and evaluating the progress of its first academic quarter, the Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC) held an institutional strengthening meeting with students of the Specialization in Gender and Equality Policies in Education.
The event, organized by the Social Sciences and Humanities Department and the Center for Gender Studies (CEG), brought together education professionals from the Santo Domingo and San Francisco de Macorís campuses. The postgraduate program is supported by the National Institute for Teacher Training and Development (Inafocam) and the Ministry of Education (Minerd).
During the welcoming remarks, Desiree del Rosario, CEG coordinator and academic coordinator of the specialty, emphasized that the school is not a neutral space, since values, expectations and ways of relating are transmitted there.
“Education is one of the most powerful spaces for transforming society, and that transformation can only be fair, democratic, and sustainable when it incorporates a serious, critical, and committed gender perspective,” said Del Rosario, after inviting teachers not to be passive participants, but active subjects in building a pedagogy that does not discriminate or reproduce stereotypes.
Territorial integration and sense of belonging
As part of the meeting, the students participated in an induction process, toured the university campus and received guidance on library services, with the purpose of consolidating their sense of belonging to the academic community.
Addressing those present, the academic coordinator thanked Inafocam for its commitment to the ongoing professional development of teaching staff, and Minerd for understanding that equity is "a non-negotiable pillar" of the education system.
“Investing in gender training and equality policies is not a luxury or an afterthought; it is an urgent necessity to move towards a fairer education. We cannot speak of quality if there are students who feel excluded, violated, made invisible, or limited by stereotypes,” concluded Del Rosario, urging specialists to become multipliers of this vision in their respective educational centers and management teams.
During the day, the students carried out an evaluation process of the first term, sharing their assessments, experiences and reflections on the academic development achieved so far, as well as their commitment to this four-term training process.
It was also highlighted that this specialization is part of INTEC's academic offerings in gender, along with programs such as the Master's in Gender and Equality Policies in Education, the Master's in Gender and Development, and the Specialization in Comprehensive Approach to Violence, reaffirming the institutional commitment to specialized training and the construction of a more equitable and inclusive society.
About INTEC
El Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC) is a Dominican institution of private higher education of public interest, a pioneer in the training of professionals in the areas of engineering, science and business, with a constant focus on innovation and academic excellence.
About Inafocam
The National Institute for Teacher Training and Development (Inafocam) is a decentralized body attached to the Ministry of Education, responsible for coordinating and promoting the training, development and updating of personnel in the Dominican education system.