Tuition And Tutoring Program

Education in Haiti

Education is a market in Haiti; those who cannot pay do not have access to it. Going to school there is a privilege mostly for students whose parents are part of the upper class. When it comes to students belonging to the lower and middle classes of society, the government does not have a reliable system in place to help them get the proper education they need. Therefore, education becomes a luxury for those families. To help better understand the urgency of the matter, Deroly (2019) gave these three facts about Haitian education:

  • Almost 80 percent of the country’s primary school teachers are not formally trained.

  • Over half of students do not complete primary school.

  • Only 1 percent of students reach university.

Research conducted by the World Bank shows that:

  • Each year, an increasing number of Haitian students, especially girls drop out of school due to families’ lack of financial resources.

  • The difficult economic situation in Haiti has forces the children of many families to take turns going to school.

  • The Haitian government gives little financial support to the education sector. And sadly, when youth drop out of school they are exposed to armed gangs and drug dealers.

Knowing the important role education plays for a better world, FMSC saw the necessity to help increase Haiti’s literacy rate by starting the Tuition and Tutoring Program. This program, designed for those children whose parents are financially struggling, will make them beneficiaries of a scholarship and provide them with the academic help that they need to succeed. 

About the Program

The Tuition and Tutoring Program consists of choosing children (between 5 and 12 years old) and helping them get admitted to partner-schools renowned for the quality education they provide students. In addition to getting help with finding the right school, these children will benefit from a scholarship that will cover their tuition for that academic year. Furthermore, tutors will be available to help them with their courses and homework. For the academic year 2020-2021, the program will focus solely on primary school education (equivalent to elementary school in the U.S. education system). Depending on our progress, FMSC will decide whether or not to expand to secondary school education. Further information about the goals of this program and how they will be carried out are detailed below.

Specifications for the Tuition Program

  • The Tuition Program includes the following benefits:

    • School tuition coverage

    • Book expenses coverage

    • School supplies coverage (book bags, pencils, pens, notebooks...)

  • Criteria of Eligibility:

    • Participants must be between the ages of five (5) and twelve (12) years old. 

    • Participants’ admission test results must meet the next criterium. The tests will be provided by the schools chosen by the applicants. 

    • Should the admission test results reveal that a participant needs to go down one or more grade levels, that participant cannot be more than two (2) years older than the typical age for that class. If a participant is more than two (2) years older and agrees to stay in the class, he or she can sign a waiver stating that FMSC will not be responsible for any future consequences that could come out of that decision. 

    • Parent(s) and guardian(s) must show proof of financial hardship. Proofs include, but are not limited to the following:

      • School payments receipts 

      • “Financial Hardship Screening” form

      • Household visits

Specifications for the Tutoring Program

  • The Tutoring Program includes the following benefits:

    • Free tutoring sessions three (3) times a week for all FMSC scholars. Each session will last two (2) hours.

    • Opportunity for participants to become tutors in the future.

  • Tutoring location:

    • One tutor will be located downtown and another one in the surrounding areas. Students will choose a location that is closer to them.

  • Tutors Specifications:

    • Tutors will be hired based on their availability and their ability and capacity to help students with academic work. 

    • Tutors will be given a stipend every month to value their work and effort. The stipend will be calculated based on teachers’ salaries in Les Cayes. 

Fondation Marie Solange Clergé Partnered School in Les Cayes:

  • College Frère Odile Joseph Des Cayes

  • Institution des Soeur de Saint Anne

  • Ecole Premiere Eglise Baptiste Des Cayes