Jean Ronald Joseph, Director General of the National Education Fund (FNE) and Professor Fritz Deshommes of the State University of Haiti (UEH) initialed on April 26, 2022 a Memorandum of Understanding on the support for UEH students, thus establishing a formal collaboration between the two institutions for the benefit of the public higher education sector.

Through this MoU, the two parties agree on the definition of the general framework of a partnership aimed at financing and carrying out support projects for students of the State University of Haiti, with a view to their socioeconomic development and the creation of a better teaching-learning framework.

This joint initiative, accelerated due to the consequences of the security situation on the daily life of students, underlines the concern of the parties to improve the working environment and the situation of UEH learners, in particular in the metropolitan region.

It is expected that upon signing this Memorandum of Understanding, the FNE will allocate to the Rectorate of the UEH an amount of 30 million Gourdes in reference to the areas of cooperation defined in its article 2. After submission by the University of State of Haiti to the National Education Fund financial reports, the latter may possibly consider new allocations according to the conditions set out in the memorandum.

Excerpts from the speech by Rector Fritz Deshommes following the signing of the memorandum :

"[...] A historic protocol [...] The amount allocated in the circumstances will allow us to reconnect with the campus project, to revive it and to implement it gradually. At the same time, we propose to begin to provide a lasting solution to the problem of students who sleep in faculties for reasons of security and precariousness. Indeed, the first funds allocated on the occasion of the signing of this Protocol will be devoted primarily to the construction of dormitories for students. Other facilities are also envisaged in the circumstances relating to their living conditions, insofar as the financial availability allows it. [...]

Of course, the memorandum we are signing today provides for other areas of collaboration, including:

• Financial assistance and educational support for memoranda;

• Participation in training and research projects;

• Participation in university infrastructure rehabilitation projects;

• Support for the UEH in the implementation of its action plan, its construction projects and the improvement of its infrastructure, in particular the construction of a residence and a cafeteria for students.

The protocol is signed for one year, renewable. Already, we hope that it will go further because the construction of the Damiens campus and others across the country will require even more time and the support of the FNE will still be essential for us for a long time yet. [...]"

HL/ HaitiLibre