The Professional Association of Private Schools, the National Confederation of Haitian Educators and the Parents Association expressed concern over the growing insecurity on the preparations for the new academic year, scheduled to begin on September 11.

The school directors lamented that the crisis and violence are worsening as the opening of classes approaches, and as a consequence of this situation thousands of children have had to leave their homes under siege by armed groups.

“The start of the new school year is taking place in a context of economic, political, social and humanitarian crisis. And it is unheard of,” Marie Marguerite Clérié, president of the Professional Association of Private Schools, said.

The teacher urged government authorities to resolve the security situation so that children, especially displaced children, can attend school and recalled that the development of any nation depends on the education and training of minors. The Ministry of Education confirmed this week that 12 schools in the capital serve as shelters for hundreds of internally displaced persons, eight of which are public schools.

This, it acknowledged, limits the number of classrooms available, since 150 of such currently accommodate the refugees.

Faced with such a scenario, the Ministry of Education announced the creation of a commission to work on the records of schools serving as temporary refugees, as well as to identify displaced students and teachers.

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