The Pacific Regional Education Framework (PacREF) is taking significant strides in enhancing its communications strategy to empower education initiatives across the Pacific region.
At a recent workshop of key stakeholders held at the Tokatoka Resort, Nadi (August 9-11), PacREF’s Communications Specialist, Kelera Serelini-Varawa, emphasised the need for collaboration with PacREF member countries and implementing agencies to ensure higher visibility for PacREF and activities being undertaken across the region.
The workshop featured presentations from PacREF Implementing Agencies, including the Secretariat of the Pacific Community – Education Quality and Assessment Programme (EQAP), UNICEF, UNESCO, The University of the South Pacific, and Australia Pacific Training Coalition, who shared their communication strategies for promoting PacREF.
USP’s Communications Coordinator, Koroi Tadulala, underscored the power of social media in promoting educational initiatives, drawing parallels with the successful promotion of USP itself.
USP’s Institute of Education (IOE) Communication Officer, Shreya Kumar, shared IOE’s communication plans and efforts to align its communication strategy with PacREF. She also shared communications efforts IOE has undertaken to create awareness of PacREF.
Valuable insights were also shared by EQAP’s Communication Officer, Sonal Aujla. Mr Aujla outlined key strategies and collaborative efforts to enhance PacREF’s communication, including collaboration.
Monthly communications meetings between EQAP and the Pacific Regional Education (PacREF) Facilitating Unit’s (PFU) Communications teams have been instrumental in fostering collaboration. Mr Aujla shared that these interactions have laid the foundation for potential joint campaigns, ensuring a unified approach to advancing education in the Pacific region.
Country Focal Points from Kiribati, the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Cook Islands, Samoa, Tonga and the Republic of Marshall Islands participated in discussions by sharing the communication status and visibility of PacREF within their ministries. Varied levels of progress emerged, with significant disparities across countries regarding communication strategies and public awareness.
Ms Varawa added that discussions from the workshop revealed the need for a guideline on communication strategies for various education ministries in the region and assistance in their development, particularly for countries facing bureaucratic challenges.
“In response, it was agreed that the PacREF Facilitating Unit (PFU) would undertake the development of a comprehensive communications guide to support ministries in enhancing their communication efforts, and we hope to work closely with our member countries with the help of IA’s to achieve this important objective.”
PacREF Coordinator, Mr Filipe Jitoko, said that developing a comprehensive communications guide will provide much-needed support to education ministries in enhancing their communication efforts and ensuring that PacREF’s mission to enhance education across the Pacific region is achieved.
“I am confident that the renewed focus on improving communication strategies will play a vital role in strengthening educational outcomes and opportunities for the people of the Pacific,” Mr Jitoko added.
