UNESCO’s education priorities in Haiti
Reactivating schooling and supporting national education authorities are UNESCO’s priorities on the ground in Haiti.
The Haitian education system was severely affected by the earthquake of 12 January 2010, with at least half of the nation’s 15,000 primary and 1,500 secondary schools either destroyed or badly damaged. The three universities in Port-au-Prince were almost totally destroyed, and the Ministry of Education building is in ruins.
As part of the United Nations earthquake response, UNESCO has sent experienced emergency staff to Port-au-Prince, including a senior representative appointed by the Director-General.
The Organization has submitted three education projects totaling US$1.9 million through the UN emergency earthquake appeal, for which it is seeking funds.
The projects will focus on the immediate reactivation of schooling and providing quality emergency education; training teachers and education personnel in disaster awareness; providing psychosocial support to secondary and higher education students and providing education authorities with basic training in emergency planning and management.
UNESCO will use resources from its Post-Crisis Fund, launched last year, to kick-start emergency activities until donations are secured.