Some facts about the education system in Haiti

In recent years, there have been tremendous efforts  to reform Haiti's educational system and make education more accessible to the poor and more relevant to their needs. However, the reforms have been only partially successful in the big cities, and much of the old system remains in place throughout the country especially in rural areas.  Education levels in Haiti are low.

• Haiti’s literacy rate of about 53 percent (55 percent for males and 51 percent for females) falls well below the 90 percent average literacy rate for Latin American and Caribbean countries. 
• The country has a total of 14,424 private schools and 1,240 public schools. Non-state schools therefore comprise 92 percent of all schools, the vast majority of which do not receive public subsidies.
• Some 82 percent of all primary and secondary school students attend private, fee-based schools.
• Public schools are mainly in urban areas but they are the most neglected system in the country. Up to now, urban classes still operate within one big classroom containing more than two classes running at the same time without wall separation. .  Despite the severity of the conditions present and intractable problems faced in many urban schools they remain the only source of education for poor children to accomplish their academic needs.