Education: Official launching by the Department of Education of the "Lycées de référence" program
By Hyppolite Pierre (First published in early April, 2001)
On Wednesday, March 28, 2001, the Haitian Ministry of Education had launched a program known in French as "Lycées de référence". The program only costs 1.35 million Haitian gourdes (approximately $60,000 US dollars at the current exchange rate). Four public schhols in the country are part of that program. They are the Lycée du Cent-Cinquentenaire and the Lycée Anténor Firmin in Port-au-Prince and the two, Lycée Phillipe Guerrier: one in the city of les Cayes (Southern Department) and the other in Cap-Haïtien (Northern Department).
Haiti's educational crisis
It seems clear that over the years, Haiti's educational system in both the private and public sectors have weakened many say substantially. There are multiple reasons for this decline in quality. There is first the mushrooming especially in the capital, of private schools with questionable credentials. This however responds to the need of the current market. Education is as it has always been, very important to most Haitian parents. They rightfully believe that it is the only way they can ensure a better future for their children. Since the State was not investing enough in building decent public schools and while the population keeps growing, smart entrepreneurs stepped in and opened their own schools. In the 1980's, many such schools were called "lekôl bôlet" (lottery schools) as a reference to the poor educational quality offered in those schools. The Ministry of Education meanwhile has or had, few qualified inspectors who can and honestly do verify the credentials of those private schools.
Reversing that trend requires commitment from government and, intelligent decisions. Perhaps this small step will help better prepare future teachers who can effectively contribute to a better educational system in Haiti. Many qualified teachers have left the country over the years for other places like Canada and the United States where they find better opportunities.
The sixty-thousand dollars investment seems very small, compared to the actual need of the country. One can only hope that the current project as it is designed and only confined to a very few number of schools, is only a controlled experiment to be repeated throughout the country if it reveals itself to be effective and fruitful.
