PORT-AU-PRINCE – The Council of the State University of Haiti (CUEH) has issued a formal condemnation of the Executive Branch’s recent establishment of a regulatory body for higher education, declaring it an unconstitutional violation of institutional autonomy. In an official statement, the council characterized the move as a fundamental breach of legal hierarchy that undermines Haiti’s constitutional framework.
The controversy centers on the Decree of March 11, 2020, concerning the organization and modernization of higher education, which the CUEH maintains contradicts constitutional principles enshrined in Articles 32, 208, and 209 of Haiti’s 1987 Constitution. According to the council, these provisions guarantee the autonomy and independence of the State University of Haiti (UEH), making the executive’s unilateral actions legally invalid.
Documented opposition to the decree dates back to November 2020 when the CUEH adopted a resolution warning public authorities against implementation and demanding suspension. Subsequent communications from the Rectorate of UEH to executive authorities in August and November 2025 requested institutional dialogue, decree suspension, and commitment to national consultation on higher education reforms.
The situation escalated dramatically when the Council of Ministers adopted the decree on December 18, 2025, followed by its official publication in ‘Le Moniteur’ on December 30, 2025, and the subsequent establishment of the regulatory body. While acknowledging the legitimate need for higher education regulation, the CUEH asserts that these actions severely compromise constitutional guarantees and exacerbate existing institutional, social, and security crises.
The council warns that these practices undermine institutional stability, jeopardize non-profit higher education’s public service mission, and potentially damage both public and private higher education sectors along with national socio-economic development. Historically, the UEH has positioned itself as a defender of democratic principles against authoritarian ambitions throughout Haiti’s political history.
The CUEH demands immediate withdrawal of the March 11, 2020 decree and all related administrative measures while issuing a solemn appeal to the executive branch, political actors, and civil society – particularly academic sectors – to commit to profound higher education reforms based on dialogue, consultation, and national interest.
Reaffirming its commitment to democratic principles, the council pledged to continue protecting UEH as an autonomous institution it describes as ‘a true national treasure.’ The statement was formally endorsed by Rector Dieuseul Prédélus in his capacity as President of the University Council.