Power of education
Haiti is perhaps best known for the earthquake of 2010, which laid the country in ruins. More than 230,000 people died and over 1.5 million became homeless. Furthermore, the country was subsequently struck by an outbreak of cholera which cost the lives of many children.
Unfortunately, Haiti was a poor country to begin with. After the disaster, 80% of the population lives below the poverty line and there are major issues related to violence and crime.
From parents to government, Haitians generally believe in the power of education as a way to deal with societal problems such as poverty, violence, moral decline and more. They trust in its power to develop Haiti from within.
However, the quality of education is lacking. Many teachers are not qualified and not proficient in all aspects of pedagogics. The education sector is in need of products and strategies that lead to substantial and sustainable improvements in primary students' skills and knowledge.
Christian sector
The official National Education Curriculum set out by the government of Haiti is neutral. However, it allows for value-oriented education. And Haitian parents really believe in education. Bearing in mind the national (and global) situation of weakening values and increasing despair and crime, they seek more education that integrates values in order for their children to become respectful and valuable citizens.
Christian protestant schools represent 37 % of the non-public education sector in Haiti. The latest statistics of the National Ministry of Education reveal that, in primary education, the government ensures 12% of the offer, against 7% for the Catholic sector and 39% for the non-public sector. The Christian segment of the education sector has around 7,560 schools with 37,800 teachers.
What we offer
In order to improve the quality of Christian education, we offer a range of services:
Curriculum development
“This department is the core of CRECH, its raison d’être. This is the kitchen.”
Training
Through our training centre, we support teachers and increase their capacity. Together with the right tools, such as schoolbooks and skilled teachers, we can improve the level of Christian education in Haiti.
Advocacy
CRECH is not a single voice. We represent more than 60 members and more than 450 schools all over the country. As one strong voice, we strive for higher quality education in Haiti.
Construction
Unfortunately, Haiti has been hit by several natural disasters in recent years. In response, we have started to actively help our members to build or reconstruct their schools.
