With just two days remaining until the start of Haiti’s 2025-2026 national baccalaureate exams, education authorities have finalized last-minute preparations and confirmed the high-stakes assessment will proceed as originally scheduled. The four-day exam series, which will serve as a critical academic milestone for more than 118,000 secondary students across the country, will run from July 13 to July 16, 2026. National Education Minister Vijonet Déméro made this official announcement during a press conference held on July 10, 2026.
Breaking down the candidate pool, Déméro shared that a total of 118,090 examinees are registered to take part in the exams. This cohort includes 102,878 first-time candidates from Secondary 4, 14,338 repeat candidates who did not pass their previous Secondary 4 attempt, and 874 candidates retaking the traditional philosophy examination. In a notable first for the country’s technical education pathway, 23 candidates are set to complete the technological baccalaureate this cycle. All 23 of these technical candidates hail from the Cance Agricultural Technical High School, located in Haiti’s southern region.
Addressing widespread concerns over exam security amid ongoing instability in Haiti, Minister Déméro confirmed that top national security bodies have committed to comprehensive safeguards to support a smooth testing process. He stated that the Department of Justice, the Armed Forces of Haiti (FAd’H), and the Haitian National Police (PNH) have already put all required security measures in place to protect exam centers, candidates, and supervisory staff throughout the exam period.
The minister extended public gratitude to every stakeholder that contributed to months of pre-exam preparation, including family members of candidates, school administrators, and education staff across all levels of government. Looking ahead to the four testing days, Déméro emphasized that he is counting on the unwavering commitment of every person involved in the exam operation to uphold established protocols and ensure the assessment proceeds without disruption.
Osny Jean Marie, Director General of Haiti’s Ministry of National Education, shared details of completed logistical preparations. All candidate admission forms for exam rooms have already been printed and distributed to the country’s 10 Departmental Directorates of Education, which will in turn deliver the documents to registered examinees. Every exam center has been selected, inspected, and fully prepared to welcome candidates ahead of Monday’s opening test.
Jean Marie also reminded all participants and supporters of strictly enforced exam rules. Prohibited items inside exam rooms include weapons, personal cell phones, and programmable calculators, and any confirmed cases of cheating will face severe disciplinary penalties. He closed by calling on the more than 118,000 registered candidates to remain calm and focused as they approach this key academic assessment, and urged the broader public to show understanding and support for examinees throughout the exam week.