The Haitian authorities have announced the postponement of the start of the school year by one month against the backdrop of an economic crisis which has caused prices to soar, in particular school supplies, and a shortage of fuel. “The Ministry of National Education informs the public that the start of the school year for the 2022-2023 academic year is now set for Monday, October 3, 2022”instead of September 5, says a statement released Friday, August 26.
The text gives no reason for this postponement, but the ministry affirms that a new school calendar will be made public and that the number of regulatory class days will be respected. Contacted by Agence France-Presse, the ministry could not be reached immediately.
Many Haitians have wondered in recent weeks if the start of the school year could take place on the scheduled date due to insecurity, inflation and the shortage of fuel, which complicates travel.
29% inflation
In July 2022, the inflation rate reached 29%, according to data from the Haitian Institute of Statistics and Informatics (IHSI). As a result, the prices of basic necessities continue to climb, as do those of school supplies.
If the decision of the Ministry of Education was expected by many, the coordinator of the National Union of Normalians and Educators of Haiti, Kenson Délice, deplored that the authorities had not announced measures to allow a return to school. in better conditions within a month. “The government is content to announce the postponement of the start of the school year without saying what it intends to do to relieve the misery of the population, solve the problem of insecurity and make fuel available”he denounced.
Haiti has also been mired in a political crisis for several years and the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021 has profoundly worsened the situation. Gangs also enjoy widespread impunity and violence has increased in recent years.