ARTICLE - MODERNIZATION OF VOC. TRAINING

MODERNISATION OF VOCATIONAL TRAINING
(Haiti Libre) -

Included in the cooperation agreement signed on 1 July 2010 by the Ministers of Education of Haiti and France, with co-signatories of the Schneider Foundation, Quisqueya University, and the NGOs "Aide et Action", "Jules Verne Mission"; aims to support the effort to modernize vocational education in Haiti, and to support the National Institute of Vocational Training (INFP) and the Secretariat of State to vocational training, in their efforts to restructure training in the building trades.

Professors of the "Jules Verne Mission" since August 2010 have ensured all the logistics of the program, as well as the coordination of interventions in Haiti, and with Aide et Action in Paris, taking care to raise funds and a support to companies and institutional partners.

After one year [2010-2011], which allowed a thorough analysis of the building trades in Haiti, of training facilities and of most of the vocational training centers recognized by the INFP, a reprioritisation of the project was made in anticipation of the possibility of creating in Haiti a resource center of excellence for building trades.

Meanwhile, specialists of the INFP conducted an overhaul of curricula and certification procedures, to ensure that people and businesses can make use of well trained, and skilled craftsmen. It is in this spirit that the INFP is currently testing, at two vocational training centers in the metropolitan area, a renovated and refocused curricula that allows firstly, that young motivated apprentices can obtain a Certificate of Professional Skills (CAP) in four months [500 hours of training] and secondly, that businesses or individuals, can rely on well-trained youth, having already been able to practice their trade in school, and who have had regular tests.

On 25 June 2012, Ms. Marina Gourgue, the Secretary of State for Vocational Training, godmother of the first three promotions of apprentices, will present the diplomas of State to 58 young people who have passed the examinations. They will also receive from the representative of the French Ministry of Education, a training certificate validated by all program partners. Mr. Jean-Paul Créantor, the teacher of electrical engineering, will present moreover to the electricians, a training certificate from the Schneider Electric Company, which validated the curriculum and assessment. One specific feature of this training is indeed to combine theoretical work in the classroom, practice in a workshop or on the field, to practice the continuous monitoring, two exams during training, and a final exam.

The professors from "Jules Verne", and their Haitian colleagues, are particularly pleased to have interested several Haitian businesses (construction companies and suppliers) to these courses: Deatrel, Promobois (Rouzier), Poitevien, LCI, Alliance Distribution, Batimat, Ekodepot, Eccomar, Saint Eloi, Berelec. These companies have agreed to make an intervention for the youth on Saturdays or giving work to be done to apprentices as part of their training. Three of them, the companies Berelec, Eccomar and Poitevien will welcome as an internship a few graduates from the month of July. This recognition by Haitian professionals of the quality of innovative training set up by the INFP is a decisive step towards a win-win partnership between school/enterprise and has been a source of great pride for the Haitian teachers at the Vocational Training Centres of Carrefour, and at Varreux and for the young people in training, who value the attention they receive from these specialists.

Several companies, public and para-public organizations, and NGOs are also interested in this program, which is particularly creative and inclusive and some have even brought a co-funding: ADEME, Agency for Environment and energy management based in Paris ,the "Liège aide à Haïti" association, "Entrepreneurs sans frontières", "Première urgence", "Library Without Borders", FIDESCO, APEFE, Water for All, DIGICEL, Energy Without Borders, and several donors such as IDB, UNESCO, the Swiss and the Spanish Cooperation. "Jules Verne" will soon install a center rebuilt by the IDB in Gonaïves and an Electrotechnical workshop, of which the teaching equipment have been fabricated ​​by apprentices in Carrefour.

The objective of the two Ministries is to be able o inject rapidly each year into the labor market, well trained citizens who are respectful of the standards and can participate with dedication and competence, in the reconstruction of the country and quickly become economically independent.

The French Ministry of National Education, which signed in May 2012, a renewable partnership of five years with the MENFP hopes to contribute significantly, by a peer to peer support, in the rebuilding of Haiti's educational system, and a curricula for vocational training. This partnership is based on professional relations of confidence, aiming to support the inspectors, school heads and teachers who want to improve the quality of training they give to young Haitians, and train generations of responsible citizens, who are capable and proud to contribute to the development of their country.

Next year two new workshops will be operational, which will train nearly 400 young people in three departments (West, North East and Artibonite) and new workshops will be installed in 2013 in five centers built by INFP, with Haitian funds.

President Michel Martelly inaugurated on June 23, the first two rehabilitated and equipped workshops under this Franco-Haitian program, and expressed satisfaction with the good results, validated by the INFP. He desires a strengthening of the system established by the French Ministry of Education, within the Haitian Ministry.