A new chapter in Haitian literacy and learning outcomes

Haiti has the highest rate of illiteracy in the western hemisphere with 40% of the population unable to read and write. Literacy has a big impact on future learning and life outcomes, so interventions in this core skill can have wide-ranging benefits for individuals and societies.

Read Haiti is helping improve literacy outcomes through a series of measures that target systemic change. The core goals are fourfold. Firstly, advancing the reading and writing skills of Haitian elementary school children in Creole and French by the end of 3rd grade through better materials, instruction and knowledge sharing. Secondly, studying and innovating effective means of strengthening literacy programming and sharing this learning among a community of key stakeholders in and beyond Haiti. Thirdly, building the quality and capacity of teacher-training approaches with the Haitian Ministry of Education, higher education institutions and other civil society partners. And finally, developing a framework that will improve students' overall performance by including socio-emotional skills in learning programmes and policies.

The long-term vision is for whole child development to become a priority on the Haitian education system, especially within the Catholic education system, to improve learning and life-outcomes for Haitian children. This will result in improvements in the economy and social wellbeing of the nation.