In the January earthquake in Haiti, approximately 5000 schools were destroyed or seriously damaged leaving close to 3 million children without a safe place to attend school and learn.

The ministry of education is establishing temporary structures while school reconstruction begins.  Completion of the many school buildings is far off, but the ministry has decided that a returning children to school is most important, even if locations are less than ideal.

With teaching and educational materials all but obliterated and the loss of communities due to human migration after the quake, there is still much to be organised.  Teachers are being trained and materials are coming in from other countries around the clock to prepare for the re-opening of schools.

The Haitian government has recently announced it will reopen schools on the 1st of April.  This involves distributing tents and tarps, educational materials, and sourcing and training educational personnel.  The ministry of education is offering intense teacher training and courses on offering students psychological support.  SOS Children’s Villages will re-open the doors to their schools in mid April after further repairs can be completed.

While people are slowly rebuilding their homes and lives, a craving for the familiar and the routine is prevalent.  It is important for children to get back into the routine of a school schedule in an attempt to move forward after the devastating damage of the earthquake.  A UN report released last week reports most children want to return to school and parents feel confident sending them to school once more.

According to recently revealed statistics, 87% of schools in Port-au-Prince and 96% of schools in Leogange have been damaged or destroyed.  UNESCO has joined in the efforts to rebuild schools and re-establish the reassuring schedule of the school week and claim that after shelter and food education is the most important institution on which to focus, adding they were committed to “covering educational aspects in responding to the Haiti crisis”.

SOS Children’s Villages recognises schools as focal points for the community and is committed to assisting with the ad-hoc schools until their own school is ready to welcome students once again.

SPONSOR A CHILD IN HAITI WITH SOS CHILDREN’S VILLAGES