Following the signing of a commitment agreement with teachers' unions on Monday, January 20, 2025, the Government officially announced the end of the strike that had paralyzed public schools and high schools since January 13. This agreement is a major step towards enabling students throughout the country to return to school in the coming days.

Aware of the challenges facing the education sector and the consequences of this strike, the Government has intensified discussions with trade union organizations in recent days.

Prime Minister Fils Aimé, in collaboration with Ministers Antoine Augustin (Education) and Alfred Mettelus (Economy), personally supervised the negotiations that led to a consensus on several urgent and concrete measures.

Immediate commitments by the Government :

- Continue and strengthen the steps underway to regularize, as soon as possible, the situation of teachers working without pay or without a letter of appointment ;

- Process files relating to salary arrears owed by the Ministry to teachers. ;

- Grant teachers and MENFP staff a debit card in the amount of fifteen thousand (15,000) Gourdes, available from February 2025;

- Work closely with government agencies to restore public insurance coverage for teachers and other Ministry employees;

- Work with the National School Canteen Program to guarantee a hot meal for students and other educational agents.

- Establish a Joint Commission to examine the situation of primary and secondary school teachers.

In addition to these immediate commitments, the Government and the unions have agreed to continue discussions within the framework of a strengthened social dialogue. The objective is to reach a lasting memorandum of understanding that will resolve the structural problems of the education sector, including the adjustment and harmonization of salaries, as well as the modernization of working conditions.

HL/ HaitiLibre