Haitian university students will be allowed to use facilities in the Dominican Republic and all Haitian students receiving higher education in the republic will be offered financial support, a visiting Dominican minister said on Friday.

"Since the catastrophe in Haiti, we have been seeking measures to help rebuild the Haitian higher education system," said Ligia Amada Melo, minister for higher education, science and technology of the Dominican Republic.

All education activities in Haiti were halted by the January 12 quake, which killed more than 200,000 people and left more than a million others homeless.

"Dominican Republic universities are ready and willing to support Haiti for its recovery ... to give it the financial, educational and psychological help needed, as well as waiving fees," she said.

Amada said her country is also willing to help build ties between Haitian universities and higher education institutions across Spanish speaking countries in South America.

"The Dominican government and President Leonel Fernandez have promised to help the Haitian higher education system by all possible means," she added.

(Xinhua News Agency February 6, 2010)