Secretary of Education Arne Duncan visited Haiti from November 4-6, 2013. During his visit, Secretary Duncan met Haitian officials and discussed the ongoing cooperation between the United States and Haiti in the areas of education and development.

On Monday, he met Mr. Vanneur Pierre, Minister of National Education and Professional Training (MENFP). Later the same day, Mr. Duncan visited the Saint Jean de Dieu School, located near the Salomon market in Port-au-Prince. Immediately thereafter, he met President Michel Martelly.

After the meeting, Secretary Duncan announced a new investment in the Room to Learn program. Haiti is one of six countries where Room to Learn will be implemented. Room to Learn is a global education program funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to increase equitable access to quality education. The three-year program in Haiti will focus on making education more accessible for all, with a focus on the most vulnerable out-of-school children.

On Tuesday, Secretary Duncan visited the National School of Tabarre at Plaine of Cul-de-Sac, a USAID-supported institution, before making a courtesy visit to the Lycee of Petion-Ville. Later, he toured the facilities of the U.S. Embassy-supported Haitian Education and Leadership Program (H.E.L.P). a non-governmental organization that provides scholarships for academically gifted and economically disadvantaged Haitian university students.

Haiti is at a critical juncture in rebuilding its economy and there is a significant governmental consensus and commitment to advancing education reform as part of the effort. The Secretary’s trip complements an ongoing U.S. Government effort to support Haiti as it seeks to rebuild its economy and infrastructure.

Note that the U.S. Secretary of Education is the head of the Department of Education of the United States, and an important member of the presidential cabinet. Secretary Duncan was joined by USAID Associate Administrator Mark Feierstein; USAID Senior Advisor for International Education, Christie Vilsack; and the senior advisor to the Secretary and director of international affairs at the U.S. Department of Education, Maureen McLaughlin.

HL/ HaitiLibre