The Office of Gérald Oriol Jr., Secretary of State for the Integration of Persons with Disabilities (BSEIPH) and Christian Blind Mission (CBM) in partnership with : the Ministry of National Education, the Project "Strengthening the Legal Framework for People with Disabilities in Haiti" and the Organization of American States (OAS) organized this week at the Royal Oasis Hotel, the 1st symposium on the education of deaf children in Haiti.

This symposium, which brought together all the key players involved in the education system aimed to raise sensitize them in the issue of education of deaf children in Haiti ; to share experiences and information related to this issue; seek solutions to meet this challenge, was among others the objectives pursued in the framework of the Symposium which brings together several national and international experts.

For Nesmy Manigat, the Minister of National Education "the fundamental objective is to establish a school for all, without exclusion, enabling all children of Haiti to have the same opportunities and access to the most levels high levels of Haitian society through knowledge, because, one can not talk of quality education for all, if it is not inclusive and does not take into account the rights of minorities and people with special needs," adding "it is a citizen and state action to bring the necessary framework for children and young people with disabilities, especially the hearing impaired who are the worst off in educational services."

The Minister took the opportunity to pay tribute to the pioneers in the field, including the École St Vincent and the Institute of Monfort, while commending on the occasion the work of the Secretary of State for the Integration of Disabled Persons, Gerald Oriol Jr.

The Secretary of State Oriol Jr., was delighted to be associated "with these efforts to promote a new special dynamic and inclusive education in Haiti," stressing the need to bring attention on this groups with special needs (deaf), he said "we must deconstruct stereotypes related to their differences in order to make them all free and equal."

Régine Polynices, Representative of the CBM, reiterated the commitment of his organization to work alongside the Ministry with the aim of improving access to quality education services. Drawing attention to the issue of education of deaf children in Haiti, she believes that this symposium can provide an answer to an unjust situation, resulting from the absence policy for a neglected category of children despite their large number in Haiti "The time has come to allow children with disabilities, regardless of their disability, the access to quality education and the opportunity to reach their full potential."

See also :

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-14522-icihaiti-social-1st-symposium-on-deaf-children-s-education-in-haiti.html

HL/ HaitiLibre