Children in Port au Prince began returning to school this week, three months after the deadly earthquake on 12 January.
But their normal lessons were replaced by a special syllabus (program/forløb) developed by UNESCO and the Haitian Ministry of Education to take into account the trauma and disruption experienced by both children and teachers.
The syllabus will be followed by some 600,000 pupils in both public and private education
TRIN FOR TRIN
Under the new syllabus, education will be resumed in stages starting with psychosocial activities, such as singing, dancing and creative expression, to help children cope with the extreme stress they experienced as a result of the earthquake.
They will also learn about earthquakes as a natural phenomenon.
Regular lessons will resume a few weeks later.
The Ministry of Education foresees an accelerated programme over 18 weeks to allow pupils to complete the school year that ends in August.
MEN KOMMER DE?
However, only a few schools have been able to open their doors so far and very few children have turned up for classes.
Some 38,000 pupils and students died in the 12 January earthquake, which also killed 1,300 teachers and education personnel.
The Ministry of Education was destroyed along with 4,000 schools – or close to 80 % of educational establishments in the Port-au-Prince area.
