Tuition Waiver Program (TWP)
The Tuition Waiver Program in Haiti was implemented as part of the Education for All Phase II (EFAII) project to increase access to primary education, particularly in rural communities4. The program aimed to address the challenge of low enrollment rates and the financial burden on parents in a country where over 80% of primary and secondary schools were nonpublic. The TWP paid school fees for poor children to attend non-public schools, effectively providing tuition-free primary education. This results-based financing (RBF) mechanism successfully increased primary school enrollment by financing 482,000 grants to more than 1,000 schools. The initiative not only improved access to education but also aimed to maintain enrollment rates over time. As part of a broader strategy, the program was complemented by other components such as the School Health and Nutrition Program, teacher training activities, and support for reading instruction.
Pros
Increased access to primary education for poor children
Successfully raised enrollment rates in primary schools
Reduced the financial burden on parents for education costs
Provided a scalable model for expanding education access in a country with limited public school infrastructure
Cons
Reliance on non-public schools may not address long-term needs for public education infrastructure
Potential challenges in ensuring quality education across diverse non-public school providers
Sustainability concerns once external funding is reduced or removed
Partners
Government of Haiti (Ministry of Education and Professional Training - MENFP)
World Bank
Caribbean Development Bank
CIDA
Global Partnership for Education