Decentralizing university education in Haiti is crucial for several reasons:
- Accessibility: Currently, university education is primarily concentrated in Port-au-Prince at the Université d'État d'Haïti. This centralization means that students from other regions must move to the capital to pursue higher education. Decentralizing would make university education more accessible to students across the country.
- Cost Reduction: Families already face significant financial burdens, as they often pay tuition fees for private and religious schools from Pre-K to 12th grade. By decentralizing universities, students can stay closer to home, reducing the costs associated with relocating to Port-au-Prince, such as housing, transportation, and living expenses.
- Quality Improvement: The existing public schools, known as National Schools and Lycées, are few and generally offer poor-quality education. Establishing universities in various provinces can raise the overall educational standards by providing better resources and facilities closer to where students live.
- Economic Growth: Decentralizing universities can stimulate economic development in other regions. University campuses can create jobs, attract businesses, and contribute to the local economy. This can lead to a more balanced economic development across the country.
- Social Stability: Concentrating higher education in Port-au-Prince contributes to overcrowding and increases the pressure on the city's infrastructure. Decentralizing education can help reduce the migration pressure on the capital, leading to better social stability and living conditions in both the capital and other regions.
- Equity: Providing equal educational opportunities across the country ensures that all students, regardless of their geographic location, have a fair chance to pursue higher education. This can lead to a more equitable society where opportunities are not limited by geography.
- Intellectual Capacities Replacement:
. Foreign humanitarian programs, such as those led by President Biden and Canadian initiatives, offer significant benefits to Haitian individuals and families. However, on a national level, they should be viewed as a potential evasion of our own intellectual development. Expanding university education in Haiti will foster a continuously educated generation throughout the country.
Fundraising campaigns from across the globe will be organized to raise money to build university campuses in Haiti's main provinces, including Cap-Haitien, Gonaives, Les Cayes, Hinche, Port-de-Paix, Jacmel, and Jeremie. Every Haitian currently living abroad should be a part of this program to give back to our Mother Nation.