“Ask questions” may not be the most comfortable thing that comes to a teacher’s mind when she or he is in the front of a classroom of 60+ students. But that is part of what 58 secondary teachers discussed in their four-week program of professional training this summer in Jérémie, Haiti. The program surveyed child-centered approaches to teaching – encourage students to ask questions, solve problems, work cooperatively, and integrate information relevant to the children and to society, such as communication, health, civics and the environment.

Teachers in Haiti, as everywhere, want to know what the best methods are to raise the level of their students and society. However, Haitian teachers, particularly those in rural areas, have limited opportunity for formal training or access to modern curriculum materials. Konbit Anseyan Grandans, a teachers group in Jérémie, is addressing this challenge, and found help from Pwof Ansanm, an NGO dedicated to supporting educational initiatives in Haiti. Together, KAG, Pwof Ansanm, and members in Jérémie structured a 4-week, 64-hour, certified program to provide teacher training to Jérémie’s secondary teachers. Teachers came from 31 schools and are expected to return to those schools in the fall armed with new ideas for their students. In 2006, the program will expand to allow more secondary teachers to have the training, and those who are qualified to continue into a full, certified 3-year program of pedagogy.

To increase their access to curriculum materials, each teacher in the program obtained training on the computer and established an email. They will have access to the internet in order to find materials for their curriculum. From the initial training, a library improvement group formed to work with the National Library in Jérémie to find more resources.

Teachers have an immeasurably important role on the future, influencing many generations. By allowing teachers to discover newer and better ways of teaching, and providing access to information, the future will be brighter. Each teacher knows their role in society. It is society’s role to support them in that effort.

If you would like to support education in Haiti there are many opportunities. We are looking for individuals who will do program development, teaching, and translating. We would be interested in expanding this program to other area of Haiti. All of our resources (lesson plans, program objectives, program plans, etc.) are freely available. Please contact Pwof Ansanm (www.pwofansanm.org) if you would like to receive more information.

Joy Miksic
Pwof Ansanm