Against the backdrop of milestone anniversaries for Haiti’s Protestant educational community, the Haitian Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training (MENFP) brought together more than 600 Protestant sector education leaders on June 10, 2026, for a full-day collaborative discussion focused on advancing the national accreditation process for private educational institutions. Attendees included heads of primary and secondary schools, vocational training center leaders, university deans, and rectors from across the country’s Protestant-led education network.
The gathering was intentionally timed to align with major commemorations: the 40th anniversary of both the Protestant Federation of Haiti (FPH) and the Federation of Protestant Schools of Haiti (FEPH), as well as the 210th anniversary of the founding of Protestantism in Haiti. The core goal of the meeting was to align religious and secular education leaders around the urgent need to bring private Protestant-led institutions into compliance with national education standards, a change that officials say will cement consistent educational quality and open doors to stronger collaboration between the sector, public regulators, and global development partners.
Addressing the assembled delegates on behalf of Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, Ms. Axène Joseph opened the event by noting, “On behalf of the Head of Government, I feel a sense of national pride and a great honor to address this assembly of representatives from Protestant schools and universities in Haiti today.” She emphasized that the Haitian government, through the MENFP, has launched an ambitious national education reform agenda that aims to fundamentally reshape the country’s entire school system, framing the gathering as a critical milestone in that broader transformation.
MENFP Minister Vijonet Déméro framed the discussion as a proactive step to clear up confusion around accreditation protocols, helping Protestant denominations navigate the multi-step process of gaining national recognition for their institutions. He stressed the outsized influence that the Protestant education sector holds in Haiti: “If we consider the country’s school system, it’s easy to see that Reformed churches manage many schools, with a presence in rural areas and disadvantaged urban neighborhoods. If the Protestant sector succeeds in modernizing, Haitian schools will be transformed. If it commits to change, the Republic will move forward.” Déméro also outlined the ministry’s broader transformation agenda, which includes sweeping curriculum reform, standardization of core instructional materials, expanded access to digital, civic, and financial education, new investments in student mental health and well-being, infrastructure upgrades, and expansion of the national school canteen program.
Raina Forbin, Haiti’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Religious Affairs, praised the initiative for centering the critical work of the Protestant education sector and pledged her department’s full support throughout the three-stage accreditation process, which begins with institutional opening authorization, moves to issuance of an operating permit, and concludes with the award of a full accreditation certificate.
FPH President Calixte Fleuridor and FEPH Executive Director Christon St. Fort both commended the MENFP for organizing the collaborative dialogue, while calling for continued investment in and expansion of public-private partnerships in Haiti’s education sector.
The second half of the day was dedicated to practical, step-by-step procedural guidance for attending institutions. Walex Pierre, Director of the Directorate for Support to Private Education and Partnerships (DAEPP), laid out the core pillars of the National Policy for the Accreditation of Private Schools (PONAEP). Yves Villefranche of the National Institute for Vocational Training (INFP) walked attendees through recognition protocols for vocational training centers, while Jean Judson Joseph of the National Agency for Higher Education and Scientific Research (ANESRS) outlined the specific process for private universities. Elysé Colagène, Director General of the National Education Fund (FNE), explained how institutions can access national school grants, and Lucson Philémon, Coordinator of the National School Canteen Program (PNCS), detailed the requirements for schools to join the widely used meal program.
To cap off the day of collaboration, the MENFP’s Directorate of Academic and Professional Development issued more than 300 operating permits to school representatives in attendance, marking tangible progress toward national compliance even as the broader accreditation process continues.