After three days of intensive deliberation from January 21-23, 2026, Haiti has embarked on an ambitious journey to completely transform its education sector. Augustin Antoine, the Minister of National Education, formally concluded the National Conference on the Refounding of the Haitian Education System with the adoption of a comprehensive 28-article declaration addressing the nation’s educational challenges.
The landmark conference brought together an unprecedented coalition of stakeholders including educators, school administrators, inspectors, academics, parents, students, union representatives, local authorities, diaspora members, and international cooperation partners. This diverse assembly committed to conducting a candid assessment of Haiti’s educational framework while maintaining a vision for meaningful change.
Minister Antoine contextualized the urgency of this initiative within Haiti’s severe socio-economic crisis, which has triggered massive population displacements and prolonged school closures. He highlighted the precarious conditions facing educators and the systematic deprivation of children’s fundamental right to education. “In some regions,” Antoine noted, “attending school constitutes an act of bravery, while teaching represents an act of resistance against overwhelming adversity.”
Despite these challenges, the Minister acknowledged the resilience demonstrated by thousands of teachers continuing their work, parents determined to secure education for their children, and youth pursuing better futures through learning. The reconstruction process, he emphasized, will require substantial time, consistent effort, significant resources, and most critically, sustained political will and collective national responsibility.
The Minister praised the conference’s outcome as a “sovereign act” and expressed optimism that these proceedings would establish a historic benchmark for Haiti’s national development, potentially serving as a turning point for educational renewal amid ongoing national struggles.