Haitian Students at Risk: No Safety in Sight

Education Under Fire as Violence Escalates

PORT-AU-PRINCE—The crisis of violence in Haiti has reached alarming new heights, endangering the very future of the nation—its students. On Tuesday, February 11, 2025, a tragic incident unfolded when a student from the Centre d’Etudes Diplomatiques et Internationales (CEDI) in Bourdon was fatally struck by a stray bullet while inside his classroom. Meanwhile, an elementary school student at the Institution Saint Louis de Gonzague in Delmas 31 suffered a minor arm injury from another stray bullet while in the schoolyard. The young victim, whose name has not been disclosed, is reportedly out of immediate danger. However, the psychological scars of such incidents continue to deepen among Haiti’s student population.

The deceased student has been identified as Lebelt Macenat, a promising scholar whose life was cut short by the unchecked violence that has gripped the capital. His death marks yet another grim milestone in Haiti’s escalating crisis, where schools—once considered sanctuaries of learning—have become battlegrounds in a war that spares no one.

Gunfire and gang-related violence have become an everyday reality, putting students and educators at constant risk. Reports indicate that stray bullets have claimed multiple victims in recent months. Among them was Claire Guirand, the niece of renowned Haitian musician Michael Guirand, who was killed last year under similar circumstances. Earlier this year, a 10-month-old infant was struck by a stray bullet in his own home, an unthinkable tragedy that further underscores the lawlessness plaguing the country.

In response to the crisis, parents, teachers, and education advocates have voiced growing concerns about the safety of students. Schools are being forced to close their doors due to insecurity, disrupting education and jeopardizing the academic future of thousands of children. “We send our children to school for a better future, but now we fear they may never return home,” said one distressed parent outside the Institution Saint Louis de Gonzague.

Authorities have not proposed concrete measures to secure educational institutions, leaving many wondering whether Haitian youth will ever find safety in their classrooms. Calls for international intervention and reinforced security measures are growing louder, but the government’s ability to protect its citizens remains in question.

As Haiti grapples with its deepening security crisis, the loss of young lives serves as a painful reminder of the nation’s urgent need for stability. The streets of Port-au-Prince continue to echo with gunfire, and for Haiti’s students, the question remains: Will education ever be safe again?

By The Haitian Tribune Editorial Board| Article Published on February 12, 2025 | Photo Credit: Saint Louis Conzague