Revolutionizing Education in Haiti
For the first time ever, Haitian faculty are using digital resources for active learning in their national language of Haitian Creole (aka “Kreyòl”) for high school and university-level education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Open digital resources created at MIT and elsewhere and translated into Kreyol, are providing portable virtual laboratories to Haitian universities and high schools, most of which do not have access to traditional physical laboratories. Teachers are becoming passionate about active learning and facilitating it in their classrooms for the first time. The Initiative has garnered the support of key stakeholders, including educators at public and private universities throughout the country, alongside the highest echelons of the Haitian government
Hi:
I’ve studied a little bit about French Kreyol, and I did some research on the genesis of the written form of this local language, with the American missionaries. I learned that the language of the elite is French, and the schools teach in French. This obviously cuts out all the children who only speak Kreyol., and dooms them to a second-class life.
I see where this use of Kreyol as a teaching language for science can work to teach the science, but I am wondering what will be done to teach the students an international language of communication (French? English?) so they can use this learning in the “outside” world which does not speak Kreyol. In other words, once they have the science knowledge, how can they go on to study more or to work in the fields?
I am very interested in this topic, since the past system seems very unfair to an entire population. I would welcome any background anyone can give me, including books or articles.