A young Haitian boy raises his hand in class.

Aaron Rossi, USAID

Overview

Currently, the majority of Haitians lack access to quality education; a prerequisite for sustained social and economic development. Despite improvements in enrollment and the commitment of the Haitian government to strengthening public education, challenges in funding, teacher training, and access remain widespread. These issues put a generation of Haitian youth at risk of lacking the knowledge and basic skills necessary to succeed in the labor force. To address education issues facing the country, the Government of Haiti’s Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training (MENFP) initiated a sector-wide operational plan in 2011 and, in 2016, instituted a national training policy for teachers and educational personnel to improve educational services in schools nationwide.

USAID Strategy and Activities

USAID supports the Government of Haiti’s education efforts and is committed to improving the quality of, and access to, education for Haitians. USAID activities include:

Developing a new model for early grade reading and teaching: USAID directly supports approximately 420 schools to improve early grade reading and writing in Haitian Creole and French for Haitian children in the first four grades.  USAID activities also train teachers and school staff in modern instruction techniques and involve communities through outreach and partnership programs.  In addition, USAID’s unique materials and innovative instructional model indirectly reach many more students through numerous partnerships with the Ministry of Education, other donors, NGOs and the private sector.

Promoting education for students with visual impairments: Collaborating with a local NGO, USAID is increasing access to quality education for children who are blind and visually impaired in Port-au-Prince and Cap Haïtien. This project integrates 250 students with visual impairments into mainstream classrooms as well as provides needed resources, including computer rooms with equipment for the visually impaired and 150 books in braille and audio.

Related Program Fact Sheets:

• Haiti Education Fact Sheet [PDF, 234K]

Links

• Now Open: USAID’s Office of American Schools and Hospitals Abroad Annual Program Statement (APS) for Fiscal Year 2017
• U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, USAID’s Mark Feierstein and Christie Vilsack Visit Haiti and Announce Multi-Million Dollar Funding For Room to Learn
• Haiti Holds First National Reading Championship
• Graduates Share Computer Knowledge in Haiti 
• Education Opportunities Open Doors in Haiti
• Better Prospects for Out-of-School Youth