Education

Education was very neglected by the Haitian State for a long period starting with the American occupation until recently when educational reforms became a priority for the authorities of the Ministry of Education. The education system in Gressier was symbolized by the Ferme Ecole of Gressier (Farm School of Gressier). It was a vocational agricultural school managed by the Department of Agriculture. Thus pupils learned how to read and write and specifically learned plantation and breeding techniques. The school included a section reserved for girls where they sewed and learned home economics. With the increase in the population of school-aged children, the school changed its vocation to become a primary school under the umbrella of the Ministry of Education. At this point in time pupils were being prepared to go to the primary studies certificate exams. Pupils were to go to Léogane to undergo the end of primary studies exams.

The Haitian authorities’ carelessness with respect to the education in Gressier is characterized by the absence of a representation within the Ministry of National Education in the commune of Gressier. The aging buildings were completely destroyed and obsolete to the point where pupils had to go home each time it rained. As a result of this devastating outcome, the association CAGH (Committee for the Advancement of Gressier-Haiti) had taken steps to rebuild the school. These steps did not lead to the anticipated results. CAGH had to take part, with the assistance of a foreign organization, in the construction of a new building to shelter pupils in times of rain. This deplorable situation persisted for a long time despite the increase in the school population. Meanwhile churches and other private individuals had created schools to serve this population. A school run by Catholic Nuns was given light under the initiative of the then Parish Priest. But the school did not last long faulted by the lack of financial means and a shortage of local educational staff. It took the arrival of a young dynamic parish Priest to start the renovation of the Catholic school by the innovation of a more rational educational system.

Father Max D. Lamour is the priest of the parish of Gressier. Upon his arrival, he said, his ambition is to make himself useful to this community which has such tremendous potential. He has encouraged young people to become aware of their commune by making them understand that Gressier represents the gate of the Great South, including the South-East, the Nippes, and Grand-Anse.  Given its geographical position, he thinks Gressier deserves a better communal management that takes into account the inputs of its people. The citizens of this commune should have the possibility of enjoying its potential not only to live up to certain social standards, but also to prove their capacity in managing public affairs.

To achieve this goal, Father Max, as an educator, has chosen an education of quality with proximity to the basis of modern pedagogy. Therefore, in his project on education, he established a new model of application: EFA/CAP which means Fundamental School of Application/ EFA, and Center of Application/CAP.  It is a school that includes in its structure, a teaching center that allows teachers to participate in, at the end of each week during the academic year, professional development seminars related to teaching and didactic techniques. These seminars help teachers understand the content areas and equip them with tools to enhance teaching and learning. EFA is a school of application with three fundamental levels, a first cycle, a second cycle and a third cycle. It also has a secondary level.

From this point of view, Father Max, foresees the insertion of a vocational school to alleviate the difficulties faced by young people who are compelled to go as far as Port-au-Prince to learn a trade. This thought for the professional education of young people encompasses that of CAGH, CADGH, and COLIDEG which united their efforts to build the center for development where computer, carpentry, masonry, electricity, and plumbing classes will be offered.

It is within this framework that Father Max commits himself, with the support of the civil society, to carry out this battle of restoration to allow young people to enjoy their basic right, that of education for all without exclusion. It founded an association AGIR (TO ACT) (Action of the people of Gressier for Real Initiatives) which took steps to build the school of Gressier, inaugurated on October 10, 2008. It is a victory over forgetfulness and abandonment won by the members of AGIR. This school represents the first stage towards the construction of a Secondary Public School in Gressier.