In Haiti, some schools opened on Monday for the first time since the January 12 earthquake. But many schools remain closed due to a lack of repairs or equipment. Local union representatives criticized the education ministry for what they said was poor preparation to reopen the schools.

Josue Merilien, UNNOH Teachers’ Union Coordinator: “It was a lot of high-minded rhetoric for the government to announce that the schools were opening without making any of the necessary preparations to receive the students.”

The earthquake destroyed or damaged more than 4,000 schools, as well as the education ministry itself. Haiti estimates at least 38,000 students and more than 1,300 teachers and other education personnel died in the earthquake.