Haiti: Sun for 500 schools

The Haitian Ministry of Education and Vocational Training has initiated and piloted a programme for the installation of 500 interactive digital boards in schools throughout the country. The provision of the boards and the training of teachers for their use are provided by the Franco-haitian Haïti Futur association. The installation of solar-powered electricity supply systems is the responsibility of Electriciens sans frontières, who will provide services to Haitian companies.

Electriciens sans frontières’ involvement concentrates on three aspects: First of all, identifying individual schools aims to prepare an identity card for each of them as well as preparing individualised installation plans. The identity card includes information on the number of classes, pupils and teachers; the installation plan gives instructions to Haitian companies in charge of the work. Then, acceptance of the work verifies that each facility complies with the Ministry’s standards. Finally, end-user training ensures that users are aware of electrical hazards. First-level maintenance will be carried out by the Haiti Futur Association and more advanced technical support by Haitian companies

In addition, to ensure the sustainability of the project, one person in each school will be trained in first-level maintenance and follow-up contracts will be signed with the companies.

The project aims to contribute to improving the students’ and teachers’ teaching and learning conditions at these schools, to diversify the educational content available while respecting national educational guidelines but also reducing the inequalities observed in the Haitian educational environment. The project aims to create momentum to encourage its replication in most Haitian schools. A similar project led by Haiti Futur showed the positive impacts of incorporating interactive digital boards into the classroom. Academic exam results are improving, as are the teachers’ and students’ motivation.