In a significant address during the 33rd annual ‘Mardis de la Nation’ event on January 20, 2026, Élysée Collagène, Director General of Haiti’s National Education Fund (FNE), outlined an ambitious transformation agenda for the institution. The comprehensive reform plan aims to establish the FNE as an efficient, transparent, and financially sustainable organization capable of effectively supporting Haiti’s education system.
Collagène’s administration began with a thorough institutional assessment that identified substantial administrative and organizational deficiencies. In response, the development of detailed financial and accounting procedures manuals has been designated as a strategic priority to address these systemic weaknesses.
The reform initiative commenced with the temporary suspension of check distributions, creating necessary operational space for a complete overhaul of allocation mechanisms. This pause enabled the implementation of enhanced procedures designed to ensure both efficiency and integrity in fund distribution.
A critical policy change now mandates that educational fee checks be issued exclusively to schools rather than individual recipients. This structural modification guarantees proper utilization of public funds while establishing comprehensive financial traceability. An oversight committee has been established to monitor strict adherence to this system, working directly with educational institutions and prioritizing support for children from the most vulnerable socioeconomic backgrounds.
Confronted with application volumes dramatically exceeding budgetary capacity, the FNE has instituted a technical validation committee responsible for evaluating and selecting projects based on stringent eligibility criteria. These measures proved particularly crucial given the institution’s previous financial challenges, including a 2.3 billion gourdes debt burden in 2023.
Through disciplined fiscal management, the FNE has achieved a remarkable financial turnaround, growing its treasury to 5.9 billion gourdes. This recovery establishes a solid foundation for sustainable operations and credible long-term support of Haiti’s national education objectives.