National Education Plan - Haiti Observer Blog

As per the announcement of the Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training (MENFP) on July 26, 2016, the 2016-2017 School Year in Haiti will start on September 5, 2016. The session will have 186 days of class and 9 days off, 930 hours of instruction for the fundamental and 1,116 for secondary courses. The academic year will end on June 30, 2017. The Minister Dorsonne has informed that instructions have been passed to the Director General for adopting necessary implementary measures. On July 28th, the de facto President of the Republic, Jocelerme Privert held a meeting with ministers and State officials involved in the back to school 2016-2017 and inquired about the steps already taken or which are underway for the full success of the school year. Some of their discussions included status about the school grant, new appointment, training of teachers, institutional supports.

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Upon his election in April 2011, Martelly vowed to provide free education to Haitians. He went on with this plan by launching the National Education Fund (FNE), which was supposed to be funded by taxes collected from international calls and money transfers. Even though the constitution denies the president the power to levy taxes, the government pushed through with Martelly's plan.

The program sounded promising but six months after its implementation, concerns started to arise, with people asking where the fund is being used. Martelly himself said he didn't know the exact amount the plan has collected so far and pointed journalists to CONATEL, which is the one managing the fund. CONATEL then revealed that only Digicel and COMCEL were included in their accounts. No one can say how much the fund is. Some said it's $28 million, while others insisted that it's only $2 million.

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The National Education Plan, a program initiated by President Michel Martelly in 2011 to provide free education to all Haitian kids, have been criticized over and over again. This is not surprising because of the lack of progress caused by the program.

A lot of people might have been asking where the money from the program has gone?

Why is it that many children are still unable to study and why teachers are not paid properly?

Different organizations and individuals concerned about the program have aired their opinions and they all centered on the education plan's failure. But before one can determine whether the program failed or succeeded, it is necessary to understand the program and hear people's opinions about it.

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