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Project overview

Support programme for the rebuilding of school infrastructure (Programme d’Appui à la reconstruction des Infrastructures Scolaires P.A.R.I.S.
Improve access to good quality education through building safe, permanent and comfortable school infrastructure

Modell einer einstöckigen Schule aus armiertem Beton und reale Schule nach diesem Modell.
Above: a model of two-storey reinforced concrete buildings adapted for urban settings. Below: The National School and EFACAP of Sacré-Cœur in Petit-Goâve (© SDC)

The earthquake on 12 January 2010 caused unprecedented damage in Haiti. In the southwest of the country, one of the worst affected regions, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is providing support to the Ministry of Education in rebuilding schools in accordance with the appropriate architectural and anti-earthquake norms. The programme is designed to provide the education community with model school buildings that are compliant with norms and can be used anywhere in Haiti.

Pupils in uniform at their desks

Sacré-Cœur National School and EFACAP in Petit-Goâve. (© SDC)
In October 2012, the SDC and the Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training (MENFP) inaugurated the full curriculum national schools in the municipal districts of Dessources in Léogâne and of Sacré-Cœur in Petit-Goâve. These two schools are the result of “pilot projects” based on new structural and architectural norms issued by the Ministry of Public Works, Transports and Communication (MTPTC) and the Directorate of School Engineering (DGS) of the MENFP. These schools also promote standards of security, durability and comfort (improved natural lighting and ventilation of classrooms). The overall objective is to provide new spaces of good quality, modern and innovative learning.

Objectives of PARIS
The support programme for the rebuilding of school infrastructure (Appui à la Reconstruction des Infrastructures Scolaires «P.A.R.I.S.») plans:

  • to build 8 to 10 national schools and EFACAP in compliance with certified norms
  • to provide strong support for local partners under the leadership of MENFP for the design of models that comply with earthquake and hurricane-resistant construction norms and to the principles of user comfort
  • to advise on larger structures developing in the same field

Façade of a school

National School of Dessources in Léogâne (© SDC)
Plans of models adapted to different contexts in Haïti
On the basis of the experiences gained from the pilot schools, the MENFP, with the technical support of the SDC, has set up a working group to develop plans for models for use in different contexts in Haïti. This working group brings together the main actors in the reconstruction of school infrastructure in Haïti: the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), UNICEF, The Spanish Cooperation Agency (AECID), the Ministry of Public Works and Communication (MTPTC), and NGOs active in the sector.

The objective of the model plans is to shorten, simplify and reduce the costs of the conceptual phases of specific school construction dossiers through the production of technical reference documents based on the norms and on the knowledge acquired experiences gained. At the end of 2012, the first two models were finalised and obtained building permission from MENFP and MTPTC within the framework of a project to build a national school in the municipality of Miragoâne. A third model, specially adapted to areas that are remote or difficult to access is in the process of development.

Two plots of land

Left: plan of the National School in Berquin. Right: plan of the EFACAP in Chalon (© SDC)
In addition to the Dessources and Sacré-Coeur schools, six state schools, of which two are EFACAP (école Fondamentale d’application Centre d’Appui Pédagogique [Elementary School and Teachers’ Support Centre]), offering a programme of teaching to 4,800 pupils and training for 400 teachers are expected to be completed by the end of 2015. The programme aims to build or rebuild schools situated in both urban and rural areas on the basis of the model plans that have been developed.

Theoretical and practical workshops for engineers
The P.A.R.I.S. project also aims to strengthen the technical capacities of the engineers of the MENFP.

Distribution of the supervision kits to the departmental engineers.

Distribution of the supervision kits to the departmental engineers. (© SDC)

The first such action was carried out in 2012 and comprised the organisation of a series of four theoretical and practical workshops on the pilot building sites for some 20 engineers for the purpose of learning the principles of earthquake-resistant construction. The workshops terminated with the delivery of 15 sets of supervision equipment for the DGS and the departmental managements, including in particular special hammers for testing concrete (sclerometers), portable computers, GPS devices and cameras.

 Dessources National School Poster, 2012 (fr)
 Petit-Goâve EFACAP Poster, 2012 (fr)
 Poster of model plans, 2012 (fr)

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The project in brief

Domain
Humanitarian Aid
Teme
Reconstruction
Country / Region
Haïti
Partners
Ministry of National Education and Professional Training (MENFP)
Background information
1,300 schools collapsed as a result of the earthquake in January 2010, providing a tragic demonstration of the poor quality of school buildings (absence of norms and guidelines or failure to respect them). Rebuilding the schools has been a major concern of the government of Haiti.
Project target
- Ensure the construction of safe and permanent infrastructure
- Provide access to safe school buildings
Target group
- Students aged 4 to 14 attending state schools
- Teachers from the EFACAP (elementary School and Teachers’ Support Centre)
Costs
CHF 12,000,000 (development of the models and buildings)
Co-financing:
SDC, Roche and the Principality of Liechtenstein
Duration
2010-2015
Contact
portauprince@sdc.net

Additional Information and Documents