Education in Haiti
Encyclopedia
Education
levels in Haiti
are low. Haiti’s literacy rate of about 53 percent (55 percent for males and 51 percent for females) falls well below the 90 percent average literacy rate for Latin American and Caribbean countries. The country faces shortages in educational supplies and qualified teachers
, and the rural population remains underrepresented in the country’s classrooms. Currently, most Haitian schools are private
rather than state-funded. International private schools (run by Canada, France, or the United States) and church
-run schools educate 90 percent of students.
Haiti counts 15,200 primary schools, of which 90% are non-public and managed by the communities, religious organizations or NGOs. The enrollment rate for primary school is 67%, of which less than 30% reach 6th grade. Secondary schools enroll 20% of eligible-age children.
Higher education is provided by universities and other public and private institutions. It is under the responsibility of the Ministry of Education.
School attendance was 64% in 2000.
After Haiti's 2010 earthquake
, the President of Haiti
gave the Inter-American Development Bank
, IDB
the mandate to work with the Education Ministry and the National Commission preparing a major reform of the Education System in a 5 year plan.
Out of the 67% enrollment rate for elementary school, 70% continue on to the third grade. 60% of all students drop out of school before the sixth grade. One of the reasons is the poor quality of the Haitian education sector. Less than 40% of schools are accredited. 15% of teachers at the elementary level have basic teaching qualifications, including university degrees. Nearly 25% have never even attended secondary school. More than half of the teachers lack the adequate training or had no training at all. Many teachers ended up leaving their profession for alternative better paying jobs instead due to the lack of sufficient government funding as they are either given a meagre salary or are not even paid at all.
The education system suffered setbacks from the earthquake in January 2010. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Haiti has been facing multiple challenges in the higher education sector. Universities in Haiti lost a significant number of students as the earthquake collapsed and damaged many school buildings and equipment. Such poor and unconducive living conditions within the nation is one important factor contributing to the shortage of skilled labor in the workforce, with an estimated 85% of college-educated Haitians choosing to live abroad.
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
levels in Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
are low. Haiti’s literacy rate of about 53 percent (55 percent for males and 51 percent for females) falls well below the 90 percent average literacy rate for Latin American and Caribbean countries. The country faces shortages in educational supplies and qualified teachers
Teachers
Teachers may refer to:* Teachers, people who provide schooling for pupils and students* Teachers , one of the five Ascension Gift Ministries* Teachers , a British sitcom* Teachers Teachers may refer to:* Teachers, people who provide schooling for pupils and students* Teachers (ministry), one of the...
, and the rural population remains underrepresented in the country’s classrooms. Currently, most Haitian schools are private
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
rather than state-funded. International private schools (run by Canada, France, or the United States) and church
Local church
A local church is a Christian congregation of members and clergy.Local church may also refer to:* Local churches , a Christian group based on the teachings of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee, and associated with the Living Stream Ministry publishing house.* Parish church, a local church united with...
-run schools educate 90 percent of students.
Haiti counts 15,200 primary schools, of which 90% are non-public and managed by the communities, religious organizations or NGOs. The enrollment rate for primary school is 67%, of which less than 30% reach 6th grade. Secondary schools enroll 20% of eligible-age children.
Higher education is provided by universities and other public and private institutions. It is under the responsibility of the Ministry of Education.
School attendance was 64% in 2000.
History
In 1997 the government passed a 10-year education plan, with the goal of universal access to quality schools. The national education budget increased from 9 percent of the national budget in 1997 to 22 percent in 2000. This paid for programs to provide school lunches, uniforms, and bus transportation. Additionally, in 2002 the government began a literacy campaign, facilitated by 30,000 literacy monitors and the distribution of 700,000 literacy manuals. Overall, school attendance rose from 20 percent in 1994 to 64 percent in 2000.After Haiti's 2010 earthquake
2010 Haiti earthquake
The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake, with an epicentre near the town of Léogâne, approximately west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. The earthquake occurred at 16:53 local time on Tuesday, 12 January 2010.By 24 January, at least 52 aftershocks...
, the President of Haiti
President of Haiti
The President of the Republic of Haiti is the head of state of Haiti. Executive power in Haiti is divided between the president and the government headed by the Prime Minister of Haiti...
gave the Inter-American Development Bank
Inter-American Development Bank
The Inter-American Development Bank is the largest source of development financing for Latin America and the Caribbean...
, IDB
IDB
IDB can mean:* Inter-American Development Bank, also known as IADB* IDB Communications Group, Inc., a constituent of MCI Inc.* Illegal Diamond Buying, the term used at the turn of the 19th-20th century for diamond trading outside the De Beers cartel....
the mandate to work with the Education Ministry and the National Commission preparing a major reform of the Education System in a 5 year plan.
Current State of Education
Though the Constitution requires that a public education be offered free to all people, the Haitian government has been unable to fulfill this obligation. It spent 10% of government funds for the country's elementary and secondary schools.Out of the 67% enrollment rate for elementary school, 70% continue on to the third grade. 60% of all students drop out of school before the sixth grade. One of the reasons is the poor quality of the Haitian education sector. Less than 40% of schools are accredited. 15% of teachers at the elementary level have basic teaching qualifications, including university degrees. Nearly 25% have never even attended secondary school. More than half of the teachers lack the adequate training or had no training at all. Many teachers ended up leaving their profession for alternative better paying jobs instead due to the lack of sufficient government funding as they are either given a meagre salary or are not even paid at all.
The education system suffered setbacks from the earthquake in January 2010. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Haiti has been facing multiple challenges in the higher education sector. Universities in Haiti lost a significant number of students as the earthquake collapsed and damaged many school buildings and equipment. Such poor and unconducive living conditions within the nation is one important factor contributing to the shortage of skilled labor in the workforce, with an estimated 85% of college-educated Haitians choosing to live abroad.
Higher education
A list of universities in Haiti includes:- Université CaraïbeUniversity of CaraibeThe Université Caraïbe is a university located in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. It was founded in 1988 and is organized in six Faculties.-Organization:These are the six faculties in which the university is divided into:...
(CUC) - Université d'État d'HaïtiUniversity of HaitiThe University of Haiti is one of Haiti's most important institutions of higher education. It is located in Port-au-Prince....
(UEH) - Université Notre Dame d'HaïtiUniversity Notre Dame of HaitiThe University Notre Dame of Haiti is a Roman Catholic university located in Port-au-Prince, Haïti. It was founded in 1995 and is organized in five faculties.-Organization:These are the five faculties in which the university is divided into:...
(UNDH) - Université Adventiste d'HaïtiUniversité Adventiste d'HaïtiUniversité Adventiste d'Haïti is situated some five miles southwest of Port-au-Prince, at Diquini....
- Faculté des Sciences Appliquées, Port au Prince
- Institut Superieur Technique d'Haiti, Port au Prince
- Collège Saint Jean des Cayes, Le Cayes
- University G.O.C., Port au Prince