The Pacific Regional Education Framework (PacREF) programme has had a transformative impact on education in the Solomon Islands, empowering students and educators alike.
According to the Solomon Islands Ministry of Education Deputy Secretary, Mr Christopher Sakiri, PacREF has been instrumental in enhancing the quality of education in the country. He lauded the programme’s focus on teacher training, which has equipped educators with the latest pedagogical techniques and tools to improve their teaching.
“The professional development opportunities provided by PacREF have elevated our teachers’ skills, resulting in more engaging and impactful classroom experiences.”
PacREF’s curriculum development initiatives have also played a crucial role in enriching the educational framework in the Solomon Islands. The programme has fostered a more holistic approach to education, integrating culturally relevant content to promote pride in the nation’s heritage while embracing global perspectives.
The PacREF programme’s emphasis on technology integration has revolutionised learning methodologies, expanding educational horizons for students.
“Access to technology has made learning more interactive and accessible,” noted Mr Sakiri.
PacREF has also fostered community involvement in educational initiatives, strengthening the collective commitment to nurturing the next generation. “Engaging the community has borne fruit in improved student outcomes, with higher retention rates and academic achievements,” Mr Sakiri added.
Under PacREF’s guidance and technical support, the Solomon Islands have achieved remarkable progress in several key areas outlined in the programme’s objectives:
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is supporting the Solomon Island’s Ministry of Education in the development of its national Early Childhood Education (ECE) quality standards.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is providing support for the enhancement of national Education Management Information Systems (EMIS).
The Early Childhood Assessment and Quality Improvement Programme (EQAP) is building the capacity of teachers and evaluating their competency.
While UNICEF is developing an in-service teacher training programme for ECE teachers in the Solomon Islands.
PacREF Programme Coordinator, Mr Filipe Jitoko said the PacREF programme’s impact in the Solomon Islands continues to unfold, creating a ripple effect that extends far beyond the classroom.
“Through concerted efforts and strategic interventions, PacREF has become a beacon of hope, transforming education and empowering the youth to shape a brighter tomorrow for the Solomon Islands.”
The Pacific Regional Education Framework (PacREF) is a ground-breaking regional initiative designed to support and address ongoing challenges to improving the Pacific region’s education system. Fifteen Pacific Island countries are participating in the PacREF programme implementation.
The adoption of the PacREF 2018-2030 by Forum Education Ministers in 2018 outlined the transformative and sustainable regional education agenda aligned with global agendas such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG4, the education goal and Education 2030: Incheon Declaration on Education for All Framework for Action. The implementing agencies for PacREF are the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC)- Educational Quality & Assessment Programme (EQAP), USP- Institute of Education (IOE), Discipline of Education (DOE), Pacific TAFE, UNICEF, UNESCO and the Australia Pacific Training Coalition (APTC).
Global Partnership for Education (GPE), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) jointly fund the programme.
