Haitian Ambassador Applauds Recruitment Of Haitian Teachers To Bahamas:

By Perry Scavella -
Nassau, Bahamas:

Haiti’s Ambassador to The Bahamas Louis Harold Joseph said Tuesday the recruitment of Haitian teachers to The Bahamas was nothing new, but a process that is happening throughout the Caribbean and the world.

"There are many aspects of Haiti that people don’t know," Mr. Joseph said. "Haiti contributed a lot to other countries."

He pointed to the 1960s, saying that when many African countries became independent, many Haitians went to those countries to teach. Similarly, during the 1960s, he said, Haitian educators also went to Quebec, Canada, to teach.

Mr. Joseph said his countrymen left mainly because of the opportunities that were being offered. But this migration was not only from Haiti, he noted.

"Many Caribbean countries in the region have the same problem [regarding] how to keep our professionals because sometimes it is difficult for our countries to offer opportunities to our nationals," he said.

"I think Jamaica has the same problems with teachers and nurses and many other countries in the Caribbean."

On Monday, education officials announced that they had recruited 14 Cuban and two Haitian educators into the public school system to fill vacancies.

The foreign educators were recruited to teach subjects such as French, Spanish, mathematics, physical education, and physics.

The recruits were expected to start teaching on Tuesday or Wednesday. Six of the Cubans were to remain in New Providence and the others were to be sent to Andros, Acklins, San Salvador, Abaco, Exuma, and Mayaguana. The Haitian educators were to remain in New Providence.

Minister of Education Alfred Sears said the government made "no apologises" in recruiting the Haitian and Cuban teachers.

Mr. Joseph said the recruitment was a positive step and would encourage stronger ties between the two countries.

"Certainly, the relations between the two countries are very good. We have a very cordial relation. I believe the relation is getting stronger," he said.

The public school system has educators from 13 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom and countries in the Caribbean region.

According to Howard Newbold, acting director of School Management, 65 percent of the teachers in The Bahamas are Bahamians while 35 percent are foreigners.

27 September 2006

education