Avni Nou

Political and economic instability and widespread poverty are among the significant challenges faced by the Haitian education system. 

It’s against this backdrop that the Avni Nou project works to improve the quality of education in Haitian public schools by enhancing teacher skills and supervision. 

The project contributes to the professional development of teachers by:

• improving their teaching skills;
• establishing group reflection on their practices;
• (re)building a rewarding professional and social identity.

The Avni Nou project stimulates the professional development of local teachers and teacher supervisors, with a particular focus on the level of French language proficiency. 

Expertise France relies on Haitian training organisations for the programme: the Haitian Foundation for Private Education (FONHEP), the Episcopal Commission for Catholic Education (CEEC) and the Federation of Protestant Schools of Haiti (FEPH).

The Avni Nou activities include:

• conducting a study on how the security situation impacts the 55 schools supported by the project;
• developing 280 teaching sheets targeting teachers, in experimental sciences, French, Creole, math, social sciences, and comprehension;
• revising the Practical Guide to School Administration for school principals;
• producing 10 training modules in administrative management and teaching practices;
• organising 18 training courses for teachers, principals, and school councils;
• setting up 10 communities of practice bringing together teachers and principals by geographical area, to promote the exchange and skill acquisition.

The project’s second action priority is to improve the quality, well-being, and resilience of educational communities with the support of two civil society organisations: the 4 Chemins association and PRODEV.

Two actions took place as part of our partnership with the 4 Chemins association: awareness campaigns via local media and in the target schools and theatrical performances of the play “Yon vil pou fanm”, followed by discussions, in 12 schools. At the same time, support groups for girls have been set up in schools. A play was created based on their testimonies and then performed in schools by girls trained in the theatrical arts.

Alongside PRODEV, Expertise France is helping to improve student learning via:

• the creation of 24 learning groups within which morning exchange circles are set up, and which offer courses in math, French and Creole;
• participation by 373 students in remedial classes (200 girls and 173 boys) and provision of learning kits for these students;
• training of 24 teachers in teaching using games and in child protection, as well as distribution of teaching kits.