Children who are able to attend school through 6th grade are usually about 15 years old. At this point, if they pass into secondary school, it is believed their brains cannot handle both school and household or garden chores. The child begins to take on more of an adult role in the home, especially males, to the point of giving parents orders. The parents allow this because they view the child as superior due to his educational level. The few parents who do not tolerate this system are usually those who have education beyond 6th grade. They do not believe their children are limited and make their children continue to go to school and do household and garden chores. These parent usually live in town and make a living at both an in town job and farming.

Education of children begins at home with the parents as the teachers. The activities and interactions of the family with the community and in the garden are the place where the children learn how to interact with one another. Formal education is desirable for children. If the family can afford the cost they send the child to school. If the family can not afford for all the children to attend school they choose the child or children they believe most capable of doing well in school and send them. If the child that has started school can not finish, the parents send them to study for a particular type of work, if possible. About 20 percent of the children make it past second grade. About 30 percent of those who go beyond second grade go to secondary school. Perhaps 5 percent of the secondary school student are able to pass exams to attend the University.

Schools are the biggest business in Haiti. Primary schools are the only schools available in the more rural areas. The towns and cities are where the secondary schools are located. Children either live together in these towns or with family members. Most live with other children where there is no adult supervision. It is not uncommon for those who pass the final exams of high school to be in their mid twenties. There is usually a 10 year spread of ages among children attending secondary schools. The majority of schools are private.

Children learn by rote. They usually do not have books, except for a spiral notebook that they take notes in. All children wear uniforms to school. Most schools do not teach practical application.

Churches are the major source of starting schools. Many seek outside funding to provide education to children. Pastors usually direct the schools. In more rural areas even mission stations want to have a primary school. They utilize whatever resources they can put together to make the school function. Much of the outside funding other than through direct fund raising of pastors, convention/ denominations, and missionaries is through organizations like Compassion International, World Vision, Save the Children, and other child sponsorship programs. They all target primary school age children. The highest figure we are aware of for attendance of children in primary school is 50 percent. That was in an area where child sponsorship paid everything for the child’s primary education. Most parents consider this to be one of the main purposes of the church and a basis for their decision to attend a particular church.

Government schools are limited in availability. The directors of government schools decide who attends according to the parents’ willingness to pay the director for a place for their child. Parents desire education for their children and will sacrifice to help them attend. The government has recently begun to use Creole in the earlier years and switch to French later since most children do not speak French. They are beginning to require higher education for teachers, although a person who passes a grade can teach that grade.