About SOPUDEP's Education Projects

SOPUDEP's view on education goes against the educational standards that have been practiced in Haiti for a very long time.

For over 200 years, the majority of Haiti's education system has been left to the private sector due to a lack of Government financial resources.  Although according to the Haitian Constitution everyone has the right to education, going to school in Haiti has become a privilege of the rich, tuition costs being well out of reach for most of the population. Only 40% of children will ever set foot inside a school and a mere 4% will graduate.

During Jean-Bertrand Aristide's second presidency (2000 to 2004), free public education was beginning to appear for the first time.  However, when his government was toppled, schools once again reverted to a payment system.

This is why SOPUDEP's approach to education is unique in Haiti: no child is turned away for lack of funds. Some parents are able to pay and are willing to do so, but it is not mandatory, and over 60% of SOPUDEP's students attend school for free. They are only able to achieve this through international support.