Learning French the main goal of education in Haiti

Like most countries in the Caribbean, Haiti's people speak their own blend of languages that is often very distinct from country to country. The problem lies in the class and social divide created by the different strata, in which those who speak Creole are labeled as unintelligent, and those who speak French are considered superior by virtue of the skill.

The bias is deep-seated and seemingly sanctioned by those in authority. This was evidenced when, two years ago, the government chose not to construct a Creole academy, as had been sanctioned by the Constitution in 1987. In his article, Pierre draws parallels between this stratification and the situation present during days of slavery. Today, half of Haiti's population remains illiterate, though there have been 13 literacy programs launched since the 1940s.

Pierre mentions in his article how conveniently politicians use Creole during their campaigns to attract the masses, and highlights the sudden shift to French once they've been accepted, adding insult to injury.

Reply to this article

Read more: Education, French, Language, Education

« University of Limonade closed following altercation, sequestration and death | Main | Edwidge Danticat and the Haitian Immigrant Experience »

Return to Articles List

Our objective is to share with you news and information about Haiti and the people of Haiti. Traditions, habits and the way we were  or  grew are alive in this site. We highly recommend that you Subscribe to our Newsletter and also share with us some of the things that are memorable and made us unique people.