Michaëlle Jean, UNESCO Special Envoy for Haiti, is on mission to Haiti from February 14 to 19. Through its meetings, Michaëlle Jean will inform about the overhaul of the education system and especially the Universal Schooling Program Free and Compulsory (PSUGO) established by President Martelly, for the education of all children aged 6 to 12 years.

She will also review the steps taken by the Inter-university Consortium for Rebuilding the Education System in Haiti (CIRSEH). Created just six months ago, the CIRSEH brings together 17 institutions Haitian and Canadian of high level, which support the Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training, in particular to support the government in its reform of secondary education, provide an institutional support for the development of public universities and support the university governance.

Ms. Jean will discuss of interventions of the Consortium with Mr. Vanneur Pierre, Minister of Education, who advocated the consolidation of universities to ensure better coordination of initiatives and avoid duplication of projects proposed by the different institutions.

In addition to the CIRSEH, they will discuss the issue of teacher training of primary and secondary level, a program developed by the Division of Planning and Development of the educational systems of the UNESCO. David Atchoarena, the Director of the service, also in visit to Haiti, will exchange with the Minister on this important project funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) to the tune of $5 million. 3.000 teachers of public and private sectors will benefit of an improvement of their knowledge, while 3.000 Haitian future teachers, will take advantage of an adapted training.

Ms. Jean, also wants to discuss with the Minister of Education, on the progress made ​​and challenges that remain in the implementation of the Operational Plan of the Ministry, thazt UNESCO has pledged to support.

Also, she will also visit Limonade (North Haiti), to go to meet the students and teachers of the Campus Henri Christophe of the State University of Haiti. The Campus opened its doors last October and already has more than 2,000 students. 1.500 others more are expected in September.

This influx of new residents created many business opportunities for the surrounding communities. Ms. Jean, who is a member of the Advisory Board of the campus, will take time to interact with the municipal authorities of the economic and social impact of campus in their region.

The UNESCO Special Envoy will also visit the border town of Ouanaminthe, to meet with local leaders and representatives of civil society responsible of Municipal Development Plan, wishing to strengthen state institutions, to take advantage of economic dynamism provoked by the trade between the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

HL/ HaitiLibre