The subjects haven’t changed except to include some courses in basic computer learning.
It is time for our education to evolve. It is time for us to teach the next generations in subjects that will affect their lives, such as climate change and technology like renewable energy.
I think that certain subjects can put aside in favor of those needed in the world our children will live in, the world that we are leaving to them. New subjects should include: Climate Change, New technologies, Civic lessons and Agriculture.
Climate Change: What is climate change? What are the steps being taken to mitigate it? What is being done in Haiti? What can be done in Haiti? Climate change also implicates knowing about sustainable living, how to live in an eco-friendly lifestyle, based on eating local products and seasonal food!
Political science is another subject which should be taught in school, not knowing how your government works is one of the causes of the crumbling of our institutions. Renewable energy: What is renewable energy? How many different forms of renewable energies are there? Which is more appropriate for Haiti? Some of our schools have a robotic program, but those are usually private and expensive schools, emerging technology should be a key element of education, because of emerging job markets. Several career paths will no longer exists by the time the current generation graduates from school.
Agriculture: Our children need to learn the particularities of the different soils in the different departments, which are more conductive to which agricultural projects. Which animals are indigenous to our country, which flora are important to our survival (such as mangroves) how to preserve them and care for them?
Personal finances: Children need to be taught how to make and how to manage money, it is a life skill that’s essential to their financial future and security. How to open a savings account, how to manage a credit or debit card, how to use e-banking. What is the stock market and how does it work? Also insurance.
Resolving conflicts: learning how to handle conflicts and disagreements is extremely important in Haiti, where every difference of opinion leads to a political crisis. There are no debate teams in Haiti, children are not taught how to analyze, discuss and resolve conflicts without violence. On the same line, reasoning, logic and critical thinking are also an important part of this subject.And finally life skills, cooking, first aid, home repair, these are skills that use to be taught in school, but that have disappeared to make way for more academic contents, which frankly are only needed in
Resolving conflicts: learning how to handle conflicts and disagreements is extremely important in Haiti, where every difference of opinion leads to a political crisis. There are no debate teams in Haiti, children are not taught how to analyze, discuss and resolve conflicts without violence. On the same line, reasoning, logic and critical thinking are also an important part of this subject.
And finally life skills, cooking, first aid, home repair, these are skills that use to be taught in school, but that have disappeared to make way for more academic contents, which frankly are only needed in the field you decide to apply yourself to, thus should be reserved for colleges and university students. Young adults finishing school, should be involved in presenting projects and novel ideas for the development of the country in which they reside. For after all, what is school for but to prepare our children for the world they are living in?
Muriel VieuxFebruary 18th, 2020