Education in Haiti

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.

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, 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.

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 Caraïbe (CUC)
• Université d'État d'Haïti (UEH)
• Université Notre Dame d'Haïti (UNDH)
• Université Adventiste d'Haïti

• Faculté des Sciences Appliquées, Port au Prince^{[citation needed]}
• Institut Superieur Technique d'Haiti, Port au Prince^{[citation needed]}
• Collège Saint Jean des Cayes, Le Cayes^{[citation needed]}
• University G.O.C., Port au Prince^{[citation needed]}

See also

• List of schools in Haiti