On Monday, August 17, 2026, Vijonet Déméro, Minister of National Education and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Education Fund (FNE), officially installed Professor Jefnie Toussaint, a specialist in finance and development economics, as the new Director General of the FNE.

She succeeds Élysé Colagène, who, in his remarks, expressed his gratitude to the highest authorities of the Executive branch and his colleagues who had supported and assisted him during his 11 months at the helm of the FNE. He gave a brief but positive assessment of his administration and wished the new Director General every success.

The ceremony took place in the presence of, among others, Ministers Sandra Paulémon (Planning), Kathia Verdier (Diaspora), and Pédrica Saint-Jean (Women's Affairs). Adelson Lorgeat, Secretary of State for Literacy; Osny Jean Marie, Director General of the Ministry; Luckson Philémond, General Coordinator of the National School Feeding Program; Inspectors General of National Education; and several senior officials from the Ministry and the National Education Fund (FNE) were present.

The installation ceremony provided an opportunity for the new Director General to present her vision and reaffirm her commitment to responsible, transparent, and results-oriented governance.

Ms. Jefnie Toussaint presented her appointment as a solemn commitment to the Republic of Haiti. After the customary expressions of gratitude, Ms. Toussaint declared, “Serving the State means serving, first and foremost, the present generation, but also preparing the future for those who will succeed us.”

A professor at Notre-Dame University of Gonaïves, Ms. Toussaint also commended the work accomplished by her predecessor, while emphasizing the importance of institutional continuity : "Institutions are built on continuity. Each leader contributes, in their own way, to their consolidation. I am committed to this continuity with the aim of preserving what has been achieved, while injecting a new dynamic of modernization and performance."

In her vision for the FNE’s administration, the new Director General intends to place rigor, integrity, transparency, efficiency, and innovation at the heart of institutional action. She called on all the Fund's managers and employees to join forces to strengthen the institution's capacity to effectively fulfill its mission of financing education in Haiti, emphasizing, "Every child who gains access to quality education represents a victory for the Republic and a promise for the future of our country."

Aware of the challenges facing the country and the constraints related to resource availability, Ms. Toussaint intends to promote better governance, more rigorous planning, and optimal use of resources allocated to the education sector.

She plans to pay particular attention to strengthening accountability, improving governance mechanisms, optimizing available resources, and developing strategic partnerships, with the goal of increasing the impact of the National Education Fund's interventions throughout the country.

The new Director General also stressed the need for close collaboration with the Fund's partners, particularly the Ministry of National Education, in a spirit of trust, shared responsibility, and results.

HL/ HaitiLibre