US to Help Boost Haiti's Education System

美国帮助提升海地教育系统

From VOA Learning English, this is the Education Report.

这里是美国之音慢速英语教育报道。

Haiti is among the poorest nations in the world, only about half the children in the country go to primary school. And the United Nations children's agency UNICEF says, fewer than 25 percent attend secondary school.

海地位居全球最穷的国家之列，该国只有大约一半孩子上小学。联合国儿童基金会（UNICEF）表示，该国只有不到25%的孩子上中学。

Many Haitian schools are in poor condition. They lack running water and dependable electricity. The United States Institute of Peace has called the education system in Haiti "dysfunctional", it says reforms and financial assistance are badly needed.

海地许多学校条件很差，它们缺少自来水和可靠的电力。美国和平研究所称海地教育系统“机能失调”，并表示，该国教育系统急需改革和财政援助。

Last week, U.S. Education Secretary, Arne Duncan visited Haiti to discuss its education system. He met with with Haitian President Michel Martelly. Mr Martelly was elected in 2011, he is working on his campaign promise to make education required and free of charge for every child.

上周，美国教育部长阿恩·邓肯（Arne Duncan）访问海地讨论该国的教育系统。他会见了海地总统米歇尔·马尔泰利（Michel Martelly）。马尔泰利先生于2011年当选总统，他正致力于他“每个孩子都必须上学且不收费”的竞选承诺。

Mr Duncan announced that the U.S. Agency for International Development(USAID) will invest millions of dollars to improve Haiti's education system. The agency will invest the money through its Room to Learn program, a program seeks to increase equality in opportunities for education. Mr Duncan said the United States will also provide technical assistance to Haiti's Education Ministry.

邓肯先生宣布，美国国际开发署将投资数百万美元用于改善海地的教育系统。该机构将通过其Room to Learn项目投入这些资金。该项目旨在增加教育的平等机会。邓肯先生表示，美国也将为海地教育部提供技术上的援助。

The American Education Secretary spoke with VOA's Creole Service after he returned to the U.S.

邓肯先生回国后同美国之音的克里奥尔语频道进行了交流。

He said Haitian lawmakers are considering legislation that would expand funding for education. He said that if the measure passes, the law would be hugely important. Mr Duncan talked about his visits to several schools in Haiti, these included a school for children who live on the street. Mr Duncan praised the students for their courage and their efforts to gain a better life.

他说，海地国会议员正在考虑立法增加教育经费。他说，如果这一措施获得通过，该法案将极其重要。邓肯先生谈到了他参观的几所海地学校，其中包括一所为街头儿童设立的学校。邓肯先生赞扬了这些学生为赢得更好未来的勇气和努力。

"To hear their stories of why they are working so hard, and why they want to get off the streets - I'll never forget it," said Duncan.

邓肯先生说，“听到他们为什么如此努力学习，为什么想要跳出这种街头生活的故事，我毕生难忘。”

Mr Duncan noted that many children lost parents in the 2010 earthquake. Another school he visited had 110 students in a single classroom. He also said it is very rare for Haitian school to have computers.

邓肯先生指出，许多孩子在2010年的地震中失去父母。另一所他参观的学校一个教室就有110名学生。他还表示，海地的学校极少能有计算机。

However, he said most students are able to get a meal at school. For many, that is their only meal of the day.

不过，他表示，大多数学生能在学校吃上一顿饭。对许多人来说，这是他们一天中唯一的一顿饭。

In his interview with the Creole Service, Mr Duncan also talked about language use in Haitian schools. The country has two official languages - Creole and French. Most Haitians speak Creole but most schools use French. Mr Duncan said he believes this situation is difficult for children who learn Creole at home.

在接受克里奥尔语频道的采访中，邓肯先生还谈到了海地学校使用的语言。该国有两种官方语言，克里奥尔语和法语。大多数海地人说克里奥尔语，但大多数学校使用法语。邓肯先生说，他认为这种情况对在家学的是克里奥尔语的孩子来说很困难。

"And I think that for other challenges students are facing, when their teacher speaking a different language from use, that can be pretty hard," said Duncan.

邓肯先生说，“我认为学生们面临的另一个挑战是，他们老师说的语言和日常使用的不同。这点相当困难。”

He praised an experimental program that teaches reading in Creole in about 300 schools. Mr Duncan also noted the importance of having good data to help schools. He said there is a need for collecting more basic information like the number of schools, the number of teachers and how the student are progressing.

他赞扬了在大约300所学校用克里奥尔语教阅读的一个实验方案。邓肯先生还指出了获得有效数据帮助学校的重要性。他表示，有必要收集更多的基本信息，如学校数量、教师数量，以及学生学业进展。

And that's the Education Report from VOA Learning English. I'm Avi Arditti.