Home  News Regional News US to help increase literacy, curb HIV/AIDS
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US to help increase literacy, curb HIV/AIDS |
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Monday, 18 August 2008 |
WASHINGTON – The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) says increasing literacy and curbing HIV/AIDS will form the major part of its new three-year, multi-million dollar effort to help stabilize Haiti.
USAID said the Haiti Basic Education Project, a US$19 million investment, will target public and private primary schools, as well as youths who are no longer in school.
"In Haiti, 50 percent of children and adolescents have never attended or didn't complete primary school and can't read, which means there is little chance they can escape the intergenerational cycle of poverty," said Rebecca Adams, manager of USAID's worldwide education and health program.
"It's not something you remedy overnight," she added.
Adams said through this program, youths who are out of school will be offered accelerated learning at community centers, and HIV/AIDS prevention will be added to the curriculum.
She said the program will primarily focus on reading, mathematics, decision-making and problem-solving courses for grades one through nine.
Adams said the program would also provide books and supplies and would reach beyond public schools "because most of Haiti's primary education is private or church-sponsored”.
"Bringing educational services to troubled areas is intended to keep youths away from crime, draw parents into the community and improve schools," she said.
"While the plan increases literacy, it also perfects administrative skills and training for teachers and school inspectors, so education officials can better manage schools and resources."
Adams said the American Institutes for Research, a Washington-based behavioral and social science organization along with Catholic Relief Services and The Mitchell Group, a company that provides guidance to developing countries, are contracted to carry out the program.
USAID said a database would track student progress and document the licensing of non-public schools and teacher certification.
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