The Impact of Politics on Education in Haiti: 1988-2008

Education in Haiti has changed dramatically since 1988 as a result of political and social instability. Haiti has also experienced the exodus of families and children to other countries due to the country\u27s instability. Many administrators, teachers, and policy makers who do not understand the changing elements in Haiti and its educational structure are not able to meet the needs of students in Haiti or Haitian students who relocate in other countries. The research explored the impact of turbulent political changes in Haiti on education from 1988 to 2008; this period encompasses the first democratic election in 1990 and the exchange of multiple political regimes since then. Specifically, political violence has repeatedly and frequently caused schools to close when politicians and protestors are on the street for their personal agendas. An open ended survey consisting of ten questions was utilized to interview teachers in Haiti in their native language about their experiences when there is political protest. The findings indicated that political violence has an impact on students\u27 performance in school. However, poverty is the most salient factor that affects the educational system in Haiti. Other findings suggested that the Haitian government should be more involved in education by providing public schools with necessary school materials as well as establishing a daily lunch program in every school. The data were collected prior to the January 12, 2010 earthquake in Haiti. The researcher made recommendations on how to revamp the school system. This study also suggested ways in which teachers, as transformative intellectuals, may assume the role of promoting change in the socialization process to improve education in Haiti (Teachers College, 2004)