The Pacific Regional Education Framework Facilitating Unit (PFU) successfully held its National Fono with the Nauru and Cook Islands Ministries of Education to discuss the PacREF programme and its implementation.
It also provided an opportunity for the PacREF team to hear the two countries’ education priorities for consideration when planning future PacREF implementation plans. The fono sessions (dialogue/talanoa) were held virtually on 21-22 July.
Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, collaboration between the Pacific Regional Education Framework’s member countries and implementing agencies have embarked on several education development initiatives under the PacRERF Phase 1 Implementation Rolling Plan (IRP).
Of the sixty-five (65) activities under the Phase 1 IRP (2021 – 2024), 67 per cent are already underway and at different completion stages.
Nauru’s Secretary of Education, Ms Darrina Kun, highlighted that the COVID-19 pandemic affected Nauru’s Department of Education’s ability to implement activities and expressed gratitude to the PFU for organising the fono sessions.
“It has been overwhelming, however, the fono sessions have given us confidence and much-needed direction and allowed us the opportunity to regroup and place ourselves for the commitments ahead,” she said.
“It is always encouraging to have countries coming together to share their common education-related challenges and discuss ways to tackle these and this forum is something that we appreciate.”
Cook Islands Secretary of Education, Danielle Tungane Cochrane, shared that PacREF activities were initially on hold because of the pandemic.
However, Ms Cochrane added that several of Cook Islands education national priorities are complementary to the PacREF policy areas and the country aims to implement these activities simultaneously.
With the Pacific Community Educational Quality and Assessment Programme (EQAP), PFU monitors the implementation of the PacREF activities by the Implementing Agencies and member countries.
The four policy areas for the Framework on which the activities are based are Quality and Relevance, Learning Pathways, Student Outcomes and Well-being and Teaching Profession.
“PFU plans to continue to organise effective dialogue to assist with accelerating the implementation of PacREF activities with its 15 member countries and implementing agencies in the coming months,” says PFU Coordinator Filipe Jitoko.
He reiterated that it recognises the serious performance challenges that the Pacific education system faces and wishes to support member countries with the implementation of activities.
“Proper planning and execution are crucial to the successful implementation of all PacREF activities within the region. PFU is committed to ensuring that through the spirit of genuine partnership and regionalism, Pacific Island countries and the various implementing agencies work together to enhance the quality of early childhood, primary, secondary and tertiary education across the Pacific,” Mr Jitoko added
The Pacific Regional Education Framework (PacREF), 2018-2030, is a 12-year framework that promotes equitable access to high-quality education in all Pacific Island countries (among which Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu) that participate in the programme.
