Tuesday April 23, 2024, in the commune of Anse-à-Foleur, located in the North-West department of Haiti, a tragedy hit the educational community hard. In the middle of class, at Justin Lhérisson high school, Darlincie Pierre-Jean, a student in the new secondary four, was the victim of an accident as tragic as it was unexpected. A piece of concrete broke away from the dilapidated ceiling of the classroom and fell on her head, seriously injuring her. This scene, which occurred in a school supposed to be the sanctuary of knowledge and the development of young minds, reveals the profound shortcomings of our education system.
The Justin Lhérisson high school and the Cacique Henry national school, two pillars of education in the region, are unfortunately silent witnesses to the negligence and indifference of the authorities. Although these institutions have trained notable figures in the local community, such as the former magistrate Laurius Joseph and the ex-Dupété Louis Marie Bonhomme, etc. They are today the reflection of a system in decay. Political promises of reconstruction remain in vain, while the buildings, erected in the 1970s, more precisely in 1978, are dangerously deteriorating.
For almost three decades, the Justin Lhérisson high school has been under the direction of Pierre Réginald who seems to be exhausted, as his poor management attests. However, instead of becoming a beacon of education, the establishment has become a symbol of failed management and institutionalized abandonment. The disastrous results in baccalaureate exams, the glaring lack of qualified teachers, and the deplorable state of infrastructure illustrate a collective failure in the protection and promotion of
education. Even attempts at repair are hopelessly inadequate, with scraps of plywood serving as temporary bandages on a dilapidated roof in the direction.
However, this tragedy goes beyond local dysfunctions. It reveals a deeper systemic crisis, where funds intended for education are diverted for ulterior purposes, thus depriving thousands of Haitian students of their fundamental right to quality education. The scandal of the National Fund for Education FNE, squandered in the same way as the PetroCaribe fund, demonstrates the extent of the problem. While local and national leaders pass the buck, an entire generation finds itself sacrificed on the altar of indifference and corruption.
In conclusion, this tragic incident should not be just another piece of news in the newspapers. It must serve as a cry of alarm, awakening consciences and encouraging immediate and concerted action. Education is the key to Haiti’s future, and it is high time that political and administrative leaders recognize their responsibility in protecting our students and preserving our common future.
Saint-Louis John-Max Bruno
