The 2026-2027 school year begins today amid protests and disputes over school places.

Public schools in the Dominican Republic reopened their doors on Monday to officially begin the 2026-2027 academic year, following a two-month summer vacation. The Ministry of Education has projected an enrollment of 2,686,971 students for this new period, with the official opening ceremony emphasizing a focus on academic learning and artificial intelligence.

Despite the formal launch, the start of the school year is unfolding amidst a tense backdrop of social unrest and logistical challenges. Public school teachers have engaged in protests, and the educational system faces widespread scrutiny regarding a persistent classroom deficit, ongoing construction and intervention in several school facilities, and discrepancies surrounding student enrollment figures and seat allocations.