New funding has been secured to continue international support for curriculum development in Haiti, advancing the next stage of a long-term education reform aimed at transforming the country’s basic education system. A US$6.8 million agreement was signed by the Minister of National Education and Vocational Training, Augustin Antoine, and UNESCO-IBE Director Costanza Farina, allocating funds for UNESCO to continue its technical support project for curriculum reform.
The signing represents a major step in an educational reform process underway since 2022, designed to modernize and strengthen Haitian schools. Led by the Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training (MENFP), with technical assistance from UNESCO-IBE and financial backing from the Inter-American Development Bank, the reform forms part of Haiti’s Ten-Year Education and Training Programme (PDEF 2020–2030). It aims to create a fairer, more coherent, and inclusive school system that reflects the realities of the country and the aspirations of its children.
Phase III of the reform, covering 2026–2029, marks the transition to nationwide implementation. This phase focuses on developing and deploying pedagogical, institutional, and operational tools needed for the gradual rollout of the new basic school curriculum. It also seeks to strengthen institutional capacities and provide targeted support to teachers, inspectors, and other education system actors.
The new phase will pilot the revised curricula for the first and second cycles of basic education, develop innovative pedagogical and digital tools for teachers, and build the capacities of teacher trainers, inspectors, and pedagogical advisors. Key initiatives include creating digital educational resources accessible both online and offline, providing comprehensive training for education professionals, and gradually implementing the new curriculum across schools. The reform emphasizes a fair, inclusive, and coherent school system that values Haitian language and culture and places students at the center of learning.
Additionally, UNESCO has launched a programme in Haiti’s north-eastern region to strengthen community schools, which serve tens of thousands of rural students. The €3 million initiative, funded by the EU, aims to integrate these schools into the national system and improve adherence to quality teaching standards.
