The finalists with the Director General and Deputy Director General of MENFP and well-known author Frankétienne. Photo credit: MENFP
Out of 11,000 students from 172 schools, the Government of Haiti recently chose 72 finalists to attend the first National Reading Championship. From this talented bunch, six were national finalists. The two shining stars who came out on top in the final round were Bruna Samika Délomme, a fourth grader from the Northwest, and Loveda Movin, a third grader from Nippes. After participating in community reading activities during their summer, they proudly walked away as the top readers in their country.
At the event, Minister of National Education Vanneur Pierre stated that the National Reading Championship was a stepping stone in efforts toward improving the education system in Haiti. “The country is at a difficult crossroads today where education is the only tool to get the nation out of this impasse. Fortunately, the government has chosen to put the emphasis on education,” he said.
Samika Bruna Delhomme (L) of Northwest and Loveda Movin of Nippes were named finalists. Photo credit: MENFP
The competition has set a precedent for the nation and for the students. By acknowledging and supporting the endeavors of its brightest students, the Government of Haiti is helping to instill a culture of reading in this country and to secure a better future for its students. Ensuring that children can read in early grades often determines their future educational success, thus opening the door to greater economic opportunities in adulthood.
The National Reading Championship was hosted by USAID and the Ministry of Education, helping students like Bruna and Loveda maintain their reading competencies and comprehension during the summer vacation. In addition, it inspired Minister Pierre to initiate Reading Fridays, which will be implemented in public schools to promote and encourage reading fluency and comprehension.
Read more about USAID’s education efforts in Haiti.
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