If the school year was proving to be challenging, schools in the metropolitan area have implemented various strategies to overcome the constraints
Rising armed violence, looting, attacks on students… numerous challenges disrupting the academic year 2022-2023 have compelled institutions in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince to adopt new strategies in an effort to salvage the year from peril, according to testimonies gathered by AyiboPost from certain directors.
In various parts of the country, threats and attacks carried out against institutions have undermined the October back-to-school timeline set by the Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training (MENFP) in 2022.
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), no fewer than 1,700 educational institutions had to close their doors in 2022 in the metropolitan region of Port-au-Prince. In some cases, schools have even had to be physically relocated.
No fewer than 1,700 educational institutions had to close their doors in 2022 in the metropolitan region of Port-au-Prince.
Due to the persistent insecurity in Delmas 6, classes for the academic year 2022-2023 at Lycée Daniel Fignolé could only commence in January 2023 and were then interrupted in February. During this time, the institution sought refuge in the premises of École Nationale du Canada in Delmas 3 and Collège Immaculé Conception in Delmas 11. In May 2023, unfortunately, the high school was targeted by vandalism and looting carried out by gangs from the lower part of the city.
« We have a computer lab with nearly 30 computers and other office equipment; they entered the high school and took everything in their path, » reported Karnold Annelas, the director of the institution.
Currently, the high school has about a thousand students, compared to last year when there were over 2,000 students, the director states. « Many students from areas such as Mayard, Bel Air, Sans Fil, or Cité Cadet have left the institution, » according to Annelas.
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In reality, around 10% of students drop out before reaching the 6th grade, while nearly 40% leave school before completing the 9th grade, according to estimates from a national sector analysis conducted by UNESCO in 2019. This situation is not exclusive to this region, and it is also found in other geographic areas.
Around 10% of students drop out before reaching the 6th grade, while nearly 40% leave school before completing the 9th grade.
Kendy Nicolas, Director of Primary Education at MENFP, grasps the extent of the phenomenon. « There are places where schools couldn’t function, and the school premises are used as hideouts for criminals, » Nicolas reveals. According to him, this is the case in areas like Martissant, Grand Ravine, Fort Mercredi, Saint-Jude, Solino, where criminals have stolen everything from office supplies to doors.
Galingdo Bellegarde Michel is the educational administrator for Jean Michel Bellegarde School in Bon Repos. « Starting in May, the security situation began to worsen, and we were forced to work hastily, including ending classes earlier than planned, » laments Bellegarde. The situation around the school deteriorated due to gang operations in Canaan, which extended their influence to the surrounding areas. The number of students attending schools disrupted by gang activities has also significantly decreased.
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One doesn’t have to be in an area under the control of gangs to experience their attacks. « We weren’t in a difficult area, but students coming from particularly challenging areas like Pernier couldn’t come to school, » says Régis Jeanice, the person in charge of the Nouvelle Source institution located on the airport road.
One doesn’t have to be in an area under the control of gangs to experience their attacks.
Around a hundred of the 1000 students from the institution have emigrated to the United States under the Humanitarian Parole program launched in January 2023, reveals a spokesperson. This program is also affecting MENFP. Several departments are witnessing a drain of professionals to the United States, which is creating a substantial void. « In my department, I lost five professionals last year, » discloses Kendy Nicolas, Director of Primary Education at MENFP. « Three of them were specialized in crafting exam materials, making this task more challenging to accomplish. »
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In Haiti, 500,000 children have lost access to education due to gang-related violence, according to a UNICEF report released on May 5, 2022. Even schools perceived as privileged have found themselves in a precarious situation this year.
For example, Catts Pressoir was affected by temporary class closures, disrupting their program. To address this situation, Catts Pressoir was compelled to use a digital platform that was created during the Covid-19 pandemic to provide virtual lessons and organize academic assignments. This platform is linked to a professional Zoom account that can host 24 virtual classes simultaneously.
« We used a somewhat hybrid system because we are not oblivious to the fact that the internet issue is widespread and access for children remains difficult, » states Guy Étienne, the institution’s director. Hence, even when teachers deliver online classes, their presentations are recorded and made available on the platform, allowing students with internet access at night to review these lessons later on.
We weren’t in a difficult area, but students, especially those coming from challenging areas like Pernier, couldn’t come to school.
« We have also intensified the strategy of educational projects, » reports director Guy Étienne. This involves an approach where students are given research tasks, sound or video clip editing, etc. This project-based approach has allowed us to cover the entire planned curriculum, and the results have been very satisfying, » according to the director. « Over the last three years, we have discovered that students develop significant skills through educational projects, » educator Guy Étienne shares.
While Catts Pressoir did not record any academic failures this year, the institution has had to cope with significant attrition: approximately 35% of enrollment of 850 students left the country due to insecurity. This has not been without consequences for the school’s finances.
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In less fortunate schools, insecurity greatly affects students’ performance.
During the first assessment exams at Lycée Daniel Fignolé, for example, the success rate was 60%. Under normal circumstances, results were around 80%, according to officials.
The success rate at Nouvelle Source is normally around 95% or even 100%, according to officials. However, the elementary section’s success rate experienced a decrease of 60% to 75% in 2023, reports Régis Jeanice, the institution’s representative. « Our problem was more psychological, » Jeanice considers.
Amid a challenging school year, schools in the metropolitan area have implemented various strategies to overcome constraints.
Nouvelle Source maintained its remote classes for nearly a month at the beginning of the academic year, notes Régis Jeanice. This practice had already been in place since the Covid-19 pandemic and continues as part of other school activities.
In Haiti, 500,000 children have lost access to education due to gang-related violence, according to a UNICEF report released on May 5, 2022.
Following its relocation, Lycée Daniel Fignolé benefited from an intensive course program that included weekends, implemented by MENFP.
For Jean Michel Bellegarde, exams were conducted over three days instead of the usual six. The class schedule was extended by an additional hour, and weekend classes were introduced to compensate for the delays. « We completed the curriculum, but it was done hastily because we couldn’t continue as initially planned, » concedes Gallingdo Bellegarde Michel, the educational director.
Since last year, MENFP has established permanent evaluation centers to facilitate students residing in areas under gang control in taking official exams. A total of 313,278 candidates were expected to take the State exams in 2023.
English translation by Sarah Jean.
Cover image : In a classroom at St Matthieu School in Hinche, in January 2015. | © GPE/Chantal Rigaud
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