Haiti: Five-year review of the National Education Fund and outlook for 2024

By Rumi Samuel Published on February 02, 2024

Jean Ronald Joseph, the Director General of the National Education Fund (FNE), during a press briefing on January 31, 2024) presented the results of the institution's achievements over the last five years according to the different axes of intervention and prospects for the current year (2024).

During his presentation, Jean Ronald Joseph highlighted the six major areas of intervention of the FNE, thus offering an overview of the mission and programs of the institution in the educational sector.

1 - Special Free Education Program:
Since 2019, the FNE has invested in the Special Free Education Program (PROSGATE), covering the schooling costs of primary school students (1st to 9th A.F.) throughout the national territory, as well as the payment contract teaching staff. These efforts were supported to the tune of 3,147,598,122 gourdes.

2 - Construction and renovation of school infrastructure:
At the same time, the FNE invested 2,775,914,120.36 gourdes in the construction and renovation of school infrastructure, with 52 projects launched, 11 inaugurated, 16 completed, and 24 in progress, including 15 in the Great South region, affected by the earthquake of August 14, 2021.

3 - School furniture:
The FNE also contributed 525,715,000 gourdes for the supply of 23,100 pieces of two-seat school furniture in the ten geographical departments of the country.

4 - School canteen:
In support of public policy on school canteens, implemented by the MENFP through the National School Canteen Program (PNCS), the FNE has allocated a budget envelope of 255,666,422.00 gourdes over the last five years.

5 - Universities:
Through a protocol signed with the UEH, 30,000,000.00 gourdes was allocated to higher education and research. Likewise, to support the country's private university entities, the FNE, through its cooperation with the Conference of Rectors and Presidents of Haitian Universities (CORPUHA), has already paid, in 4 years, a total of 285,500,000.00 gourdes. This allowance allows nearly 1,500 young Haitians to benefit from higher education free of charge based on merit and excellence. A partnership has also been developed with Regional Public Universities (UPR) to strengthen the training of teachers, the main vectors of quality education advocated and supported by the FNE.

6 - School subsidies:
Another major area of intervention of the FNE is school subsidies. Through this axis, the FNE supported the project of 229 undergraduate, master's and doctoral students in 16 countries, particularly in the priority area of public administration. The Director General highlighted the positive benefits that the country could enjoy in the medium and long term from this investment, which amounts to 133,157,717.11 gourdes.

Prospects:
As an outlook for the 2023-2024 academic year, the FNE will continue implementing its mandate to finance education. The institution plans to enter into a contract valued at 130,000,000.00 gourdes to acquire local food products supporting the school canteen program.

As instructed by the government, the FNE will finance the construction of 20 new schools in the metropolitan area, of which ten will be rebuilt. The sites have already been identified, and the project is currently in its geotechnical study phase.

Rumi Samuel

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