Haiti and St Martial College 2004.wmv

Petit Seminaire College St Martial (PSCSM)

College St Martial is a Catholic school established since 1865 by the Spiritans (Congregation of Holy Ghost). Originally it was a minor seminary (petit séminaire) for candidates to the priesthood. However, since 1872 it has operated as an open school where generations of Haitians have acquired a good quality of education. From 1865 to 1969 more than 300 Spiritans missionaries (priests and brothers) have proudly worked and ministered at this school.

In 1969 the Spiritans were expelled from Haiti and the college confiscated. When a small group returned from exile at the end of Duvalier dictatorship in 1986, it was a long process to get the college back to the Congregation. That happened in 1995.

The school accommodates up to 1700 students in three different sections:

Kindergarten: 200 students
Elementary: 760




Secondary: 800

According to the latest estimation, up to 76% of the Haitian population can neither read nor write. Its the result of years of state mismanagement and education under funding. There are very few public schools in the entire country. So, only those who can pay get the chance to have an education. This situation challenges the Spiritan group working in Haiti to consider education as one of our mission priorities since returning from exile. This education project has been backed up by the General Council in Rome, which has appointed several young Haitian Spiritans to this ministry.

In Haiti, Religious schools offer the best quality of education but they are often so expensive that the poor are not able to attend. St. Martial is the cheapest Religious school in the country and the Spiritans are trying to keep it that way to afford as many as possible the chance to receive an education. The Spiritans also have a large scholarship programme - an average of 125 poor students receive scholarships yearly. Our waiting list is increasing day by day. Those coming from low-income families and with good academic records are on the top of our list. In return, with ask them to help facilitate adult literacy programmes in their neighbourhood or to help other students in their studies.

2004

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Spiritans
• Haiti
• Catholic
• School
• Education
• Christian
• Priest
• Religion

[cardier09]

Hey, I went to that school.

[SpiritansTransCanada]

I visited the school two years ago and was quite impressed. Very sad for the school and so sad for Haiti

[hoodclan]

nice video i want some of the st martial pics so i can make a slide show i also went to st martial

[cardier09]

Well, my hope is this generation will learn from their past, & rebuild a better stronger Haitian nation.