As part of the Quality Education Project in Haiti (PEQH) of the Ministry of National Education, two new fundamental schools (1st to 6th year) were inaugurated this week. The National School of the Brazilian, 1st communal section of Bainet (Dept. Southeast) and the National School of Simon, 2nd communal section of Anse-à-Veau (Dept. Nippes).

In these remarks of circumstance, Meniol Jeune, the Director General of the Ministry declared "We are unanimous to recognize that the quality of the education necessarily passes by the establishment of school infrastructures worthy of their name."

Funded by international partners, including the Caribbean Development Bank (BDC), built in strict compliance with earthquake and paracyclonic standards and equipped with all modern conveniences, these schools with 8 classrooms each can accommodate 270 students of the fundamental and 50 preschool children. All equipped, they also have two sanitary blocks, a playground, a kitchen for the canteen, an administrative space, a refectory, a teacher room and a tank of water.

An envelope of 62 million Gourdes was needed for the construction and equipment of the Brazilian National School and 40 million Gourdes for Simon's School. It is envisaged in a new project to add the 3rd cycle to these two schools at the request of the population.

Recall that the BDC contributes up to 16 million US dollars in the PEQH. These areas of intervention concern school infrastructures, the training of teachers, the provision of textbooks, school furniture, school canteens and also support for the implementation of the renovated secondary.

Under the PEQH, a total of 61 community-managed settlements have been built or are under construction in hard-to-reach areas throughout the country, said PEQH Coordinator Shiler Caton.

Two other public school infrastructures : the National School of Source Jean-Jacques, located in Aquin (Dept. South) and the National School of Goman Mapou (Grand'Anse Dept.) should also be inaugurated by the end of the month .

TB/ HaitiLibre