The U.S. government officially launched a 4-month training program designed to strengthen the skills of 60 employees of the Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training. These professionals, who are taking the training in addition to their regular jobs, have agreed to devote 15 weekends to training in management and planning, as well as in information and communication technology.

While highlighting the impact this training can have in the ministry's ongoing effort to transform the system of national education in Haiti, Dr. Carleene Dei, the Mission Director of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in Haiti, called attention to the importance of education to the future of Haiti and saluted the spirit of the participants. "No country can cross the threshold of development without education. You are the pioneers of change for the Haitian educational system," she said.

This training is part of the USAID program known as PHARE (Programme Haïtien d'Appui à la Réforme de l'Education). As part of PHARE's institutional capacity-building strategy, this project will work with two local institutions, the University of Quisqueya and the Infotronique School of Haiti, to teach ministry employees in new techniques of planning, management, and information technology. The ministry is currently in the process of implementing its five-year plan, which is intended to improve its oversight of Haitian schools and vocational training centers.

Learn more about the program PHARE :

Originally launched in 2003, PHARE's objective is to improve education in Haiti through higher quality teacher training and improved access to educational services. Since the January 12, 2010, earthquake, the program has rehabilitated damaged schools to speed their reopening, in response to the request of the Government of Haiti.

HL/ HaitiLibre