28776: Re: (naab) 28770 (reply): Clement: (discuss) What advice would you give... (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Sara Naab <saranaab@hotmail.com>

I have worked in higher education for a while in Haiti. I have wrestled with 
this question particularly when trying to set the course of the curriculum. 
There is the one hand, what might students have a prayer of finding decent jobs 
with and on the other what does the country actually need. I think these two 
are slightly misaligned. However, I would recommend students to become skilled 
and highly capable of critical thought.

Fields include -- IT, medicine, agronomy, civil and electrical engineer, urban 
planning, business, finance

I would additionally add that many of them should take some finance or business 
courses because mostly, they will need to start their own business and find a 
way to work their skills into the economy.

There is the problem of finding qualified teachers / professors particularly 
outside of Port-au-Prince. Les Cayes has tried to be an educational hub with 
the existence of several institutions of higher learning. However, lack of 
qualified staff, funding and low human capacity have contributed to the closure 
of several programs. I haven't been as intimately involved with institutions in 
Port-au-Prince, but it feels that they face similar problems.