Friday, July 22 at the Oasis hotel, a meeting chaired by Nesmy Manigat, the Minister of National Education brought together the heads of teachers' unions and those of the Ministry of National Education around the single school book for pupils of 1st and 2nd fundamental year (A.F.), a key file for the start of the 2022 school year.

The different aspects of the single school book were then presented to union officials by the director of the Curriculum and Quality Department (DCQ), Marie Marjorie Télusma. Body in charge of the file of the school book unique to the ministry, the DCQ ensures the technical management of this file since its launch. The specifications for the single school book, submitted to authors and publishers as part of the call for applications, were reviewed and provided answers to several questions asked by union officials

Very animated, the debates around the single school book revealed the great enthusiasm of trade unionists but also three major concerns : the limited time between now and September for the availability of the document, a good understanding of this dossier by educational agents and the training of teachers

But for all union representatives, it is a promising project for the education sector that they support. Some even speak of a revolutionary project but wish to have the necessary time to successfully complete it.

For Minister Manigat, some concerns are legitimate and he understands them. However, it is necessary to act and quickly, according to him. Because, doing nothing and pretending is worse when you see that a child in 1st year and 2nd year can have around 20 books, including at least three to four books for a single subject...

"In other words, having a single school book based on the foundation of skills, knowledge and culture for the five key subjects, namely: Creole, French, Mathematics, Experimental Sciences and Social Sciences, either in one publication or in several by subject, aims to relieve parents financially while building equity in learning and promoting the same chances of success for all children without distinction," explained Manigat.

To respond to certain concerns, the Minister proposes to gradually improve the single school book which will be tested, based on the evaluation of the first year of implementation and the relevant proposals from the actors. Instead of waiting three years before making a new purchase from publishers, we will do another operation from the second year of the experiment while making the necessary corrections.

A proposal well received by unionists.

HL/ HaitiLibre