Can relocating students save Haiti’s education system?

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti —As gang violence escalates in Haiti, schools have become battlegrounds — some occupied by displaced families, others targeted in attacks. In response, the government has relocated nearly 20 schools in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area in an effort to provide a safe learning environment for thousands of students. Still, many more remain out of school.

While the relocations offer temporary relief, overcrowding, teacher shortages and continued violence threaten the plan’s sustainability. Parents, students and education experts are questioning whether the government’s response is enough — or merely a stopgap in a collapsing system.

“We lost everything. Now, this is our home,” said Josette Lormil, a mother of three, sitting on the floor of Lycée Marie-Jeanne, an all-girls public high school, now a shelter for displaced families. Around her, children huddle under makeshift tarps, their school days interrupted by conflict.

The relocation program was initiated under former Prime Minister Garry Conille to signify the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year. During the launch, Dr. Conille voiced concern over the plight of students whose schools are still occupied by displaced individuals and victims of gang violence.

“I think of the children who cannot go to school this year because they are held hostage by criminal groups. To them and their parents, I say: our government stands with you and is committed to creating the necessary conditions for their education,” said Conille, emphasizing the sacred importance of school, even during crises.

According to officials from the Ministry of National Education (MENFP), last year the institution was unable to recover major high schools such as Lycée Marie-Jeanne, Lycée des Jeunes Filles and Lycée Pétion. The MENFP was forced to relocate students to different schools. However, many others were not as fortunate and were compelled to stay home.

Students from schools in high-risk areas, particularly in the downtown Port-au-Prince region, have been reassigned. The most vulnerable schools moved due to armed gangs:

• Lycée Anténor Firmin High School is now at the University of the Renaissance in Turgeau, further southeast.
• Cent Cinquantenaire High School has moved to Collège des Frères Franciscains, located further up northeast.
• La Saline High School was relocated to Delmas 19, at the Institution Mixte de la Grâce, about five miles northeast of Port-au-Prince.
• Lycée des Jeunes Filles High School is now relocated on Chemin des Dalles, a few miles southeast of downtown Port-au-Prince.

However, these new locations are already overcrowded—and in some cases, violence has followed the students.

 “We had just adjusted to our new school, and now we have to leave again,” Carline Joseph, a high school student, told The Haitian Times after another gang attack near her relocated school.

Relocation has exacerbated overcrowding and teacher shortage issues

Even before the relocations, Haiti’s schools were under strain. Now, with twice as many students in some classrooms, the challenges have intensified as the system faces more pressure.

“Before, we were 30 per class. Now, we are 60, sometimes more,” Marc André, 16, told The Haitian Times. “Teachers, already overwhelmed, now struggle to manage double the workload, with little additional support,” André added.

“We lack training to handle such large classes. And our salaries are paid late,”  a teacher, who asked to remain anonymous due to safety concerns, lamented.

Teacher strikes have compounded the crisis. 

After a prolonged strike, public school teachers in several cities across Haiti returned to work on Jan. 27. In an agreement signed on Jan. 20, the government pledged to meet some of their demands by February. However, teachers in other major cities like Jacmel, Les Cayes and Jérémie remain on strike, multiple sources told The Haitian Times, citing skepticism over the government’s promises.

Schools like Lycée Pinchinat in Jacmel, Lycée Philippe Guerrier in Les Cayes, and Lycée Faustin Soulouque in Petit-Goâve remain closed to date. The Association of Teachers for the Defense and Reform of the Haitian Education System (REDRESEH) demands higher salaries, official appointments for long-time educators, and health coverage.

“As long as our demands aren’t met, we will not resume classes,” said Dominique Wilnord, REDRESEH’s coordinator.

Deeper challenges: Displacement and loss of legal documents

Displaced students also face enrollment barriers due to lost ID documents — including voter cards, which double as national identification in Haiti. Without these, many cannot register for school or access education records, further complicating their return to classrooms.

According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), over one million Haitians are displaced due to violence, with 53% of them being children. Most displaced families often lost all their belongings, including important documents such as birth certificates, passports, and national ID cards.   

What will it take to rebuild Haiti’s education system?

While relocating schools has helped some students continue learning, education experts like Wilnord stress that Haiti needs long-term reforms to stabilize its education system. Some of the proposed solutions include:

• Expanding school infrastructure: With existing schools overcrowded, the government must prioritize building additional classrooms and repairing damaged schools. International organizations could help fund these efforts.
• Recruiting and training teachers: The shortage of qualified teachers is a major bottleneck. Programs offering financial incentives and professional training could help retain and attract new educators.
• Developing alternative learning models: Digital learning initiatives, such as radio-based education or online courses, could provide alternatives for displaced students. However, this requires reliable electricity and internet access.
• Providing psychosocial support: Students and teachers affected by violence need mental health resources. Counseling services in schools could help address trauma and improve focus in the classroom.
• Strengthening ID and record-keeping systems: Rebuilding Haiti’s ID infrastructure is crucial for ensuring students can enroll in school and participate in elections. The government must accelerate ID distribution programs for displaced families.
• International support and funding: International partners must increase financial and logistical support to Haiti’s education sector. The World Bank and UNICEF have previously funded educational programs in Haiti. “Renewed investment could help stabilize the system,” the REDRESEH coordinator said.

Meanwhile, the transitional government led by Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé acknowledges that relocating students is merely a temporary solution and ultimately the education system needs to be rebuilt. 

“This requires that institutional mechanisms be completely restored so that schools can once again offer a stable learning environment and operate normally. We understand that education cannot wait, and schools cannot wait. The future of the country depends on it,” a high-ranking official said. 

On their part, parents and teachers are not standing idle either. Astride Célicus, a parent, insists: “We can’t wait any longer for promises. It’s time to act. Concrete solutions must be implemented immediately.” 

The urgency is palpable, and without swift and effective measures, the future of thousands of Haitian children will remain in jeopardy.

 “The time has come to rethink Haitian education, not only to make it resilient in the face of current crises but also to ensure long-term stability. Without structural reforms and international support in the shortest possible time, the chances of rebuilding the educational system will remain uncertain,” Célius said.

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