Push for Creole courses in schools stokes historic anti-Haitian feeling in Dominican Republic
Haitians have moved to the neighboring Dominican Republic in large numbers over the last century, which has made Creole the second-most widely spoken language there.
In early September 2026, a Dominican lawmaker proposed a bill that would require all public schools in the Caribbean nation to offer Haitian Creole courses. The announcement sparked a fierce backlash from the Dominican and Haitian media, with critics raising concerns over Dominican national sovereignty and fears of the unification of the island.
However, supporters argue that Creole is an integral part of the Dominican Republic, spoken by many Dominicans of Haitian descent as their first language, particularly in border regions and Haitian enclaves. They believe that teaching the language in schools would provide practical benefits for Dominicans in shared business, work, and social spaces with Haitians.
Despite the controversy, Creole has been spoken in the Dominican Republic for centuries, and it is the second-most widely spoken language in the country after Spanish.
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