Presidential

President Michel Martelly Distributes School Kits to Children in Hinche, Haiti

HINCHE, Haiti (defend.ht) - Wednesday, October 5, 2011. The President of the Republic, His Excellency Mr. Michel Joseph Martelly, made a tour of the town of Hinche in the Central Plateau, where he visited some schools and carried out the distribution of school kits.

The President of the Republic was accompanied by among others, the Director General of the Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training (MENFP), Pierre Michel Laguerre, the Departmental Delegate, Mr. George Garnier, and Education Advisor, Geneviève Douyon.

The Head of State visited the School of Our Lady of the Holy Spirit of Hinche where he met with the warden, Sr Roselore Accilus, and the Coordinator of Catholic Schools of the Centre Department, Rev. Père Jethro Noel.

The President of the Republic has also announced that steps will be undertaken to fund the payment of teachers in order to reduce the annual school fees. "It is through the school that you will achieve your goals in life. You can count on your President. I started with access to education. We will continue with other aspects, such as the retraining of teachers," assured President Martelly, speaking to hundreds of schoolchildren. The welcome was warm.

The Head of State, who keeps his promise to guarantee free education for children, received a similar reception at the School of Basic Application (EFA), a member of the EFACAPs (School of Basic and Application and Centers for Educational Support) from Hinche. He wished to visit each classroom to encourage students to prioritize their education in order to get the most.

The last step of the journey of the President of the Republic in Hinche has led to the communal section of Juanaria in the town of Los Palis where he participated in the inauguration of Mary Teacher's School. This school of 14 rooms is funded by the Canadian non-governmental organization Free the Children (The Children) to the tune of $500,000 [US] and is part of a set of four schools of the same type built in the region by Brother Franklin Armand of the Congregation of Little Brothers and Little Sisters of the Incarnation.

On this occasion, the President Martelly thanked Brother Armand for his contribution to community development. He also promised to accompany him in his religious efforts to allow local children to taste the bread of the instruction. For his part, Brother Franklin Armand has expressed his willingness to continue his work for the benefit of the population. "...it is not the lack jurisdiction in the country, but the determination. We should all put hands on to change the country," he said.

The President of the Republic intends to stand his pilgrim's staff to inquire personally of the progress of his program to guarantee free education to all children of Haiti by the end of his term.

Hérold Israël is the Director of Communications for the President of the Republic of Haïti

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