The ongoing violence in Haiti will force thousands of children into overcrowded classrooms when the school year begins on October 1st, with the number of students more than doubling to at least 80 students, while hundreds of schools remain closed, Save the Children said.

Over the past school year, armed violence has temporarily closed more than 900 schools, affecting access to education for an estimated 200,000 children. Many of these schools are likely to remain closed next week as they are being used as shelters by displaced families.

Save the Children’s local partners in Les Cayes report that internally displaced children will increase class sizes to more than 80 students, more than double the recommended size.

Maria Rosette, a school principal supported by Save the Children’s local partner ProDev, highlighted the challenges of providing quality education in crowded classroom conditions.

“What children should be getting in terms of quality education, they won’t get because there will be too many students [...] Also, one of the first things I noticed [towards the end of the school year] was the mental health and psychosocial support issues that need to be addressed among displaced students who have witnessed so much while they were in Port-au-Prince and who are now suffering from stress and anxiety and are extremely aggressive [...]"

For children living in areas of active fighting in Port-au-Prince, going back to school next week may be impossible, even if schools reopen. The journey to school in areas controlled by armed groups presents significant risks, including being caught in the crossfire...

Chantal Sylvie Imbeault, Save the Children’s Country Director in Haiti, said : "The crisis in Haiti is first and foremost a children’s crisis. Hundreds of thousands of children have been displaced, deprived of their education and deeply affected by the violence unfolding before their eyes [...] In Port-au-Prince, access to education is severely limited due to school closures in areas controlled by armed groups, attacks on schools, displacement and generalized violence. Many children are unable to safely attend school due to the violence surrounding their communities. This means they will likely not return to school at all next week if armed groups continue to wreak havoc in the city."

Save the Children is providing financial assistance to displaced families in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area who are living in converted schools to find more dignified housing solutions, while helping to free up schools so they can resume their educational activities. Save the Children is calling on the international community to support the Government of Haiti in prioritizing the reopening of schools while ensuring that displaced families currently sheltering in classrooms can find safe alternative shelters.

HL/ S/ HaitiLibre