Pacific Education Development Framework meeting

Latest Press Statement
11 August 2010

Pacific Education Development Framework meeting

PRESS RELEASE (77/10)
11th August 2010

Senior education officials from Forum island countries, development partners, regional and international organizations and other stakeholders are meeting in Nadi, Fiji 11 – 13 August to discuss major challenges facing the education systems in the Pacific.

With the theme, “Progressing Pacific education through Regionalism” the meeting, organized by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, will identify opportunities and current developments that could provide vehicles for developing education systems in the Forum island countries (FICs) to meet future challenges.

The meeting will review the Pacific Education Development Framework (PEDF) endorsed by Forum Education Ministers at their meeting in Tonga last year and identify areas that need interventions. It will also discuss and agree on regional initiatives to support the implementation of the Framework at country levels.

The consultation meeting will also make recommendations to the Forum Education Ministers who are scheduled to meet later this year in Papua New Guinea on regional initiatives a modality for donor intervention in support of the regional initiatives.

Speaking at the opening session of the meeting today, the Forum Secretariat’s Social Policy Adviser, Filipe Jitoko told the delegates that as the Pacific region continues to face challenges including in education and training, the Secretariat firmly believes that regional cooperation and partnerships amongst the CROP agencies and development partners, can contribute significantly to the way forward in meeting these challenges.
 
“As the region’s education systems continue their efforts to meet the goals of the Education for All (EFA) and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), country efforts alone may fall short of what is required for them to achieve satisfactory levels of performance according to international standards and expectations. Regional efforts are necessary to provide support to countries in terms of expertise and technical assistance which are not always readily available in the FICs,” said Mr Jitoko.

“The assistance provided by regional and international agencies to the education systems in the region through the development of important teaching and learning tools is highly commended. Our partnership with these agencies will require strengthening if education development is to be sustained and maintained at high standards.”

Mr Jitoko explained that the vision of the Pacific Education Development Framework (PEDF) is an all inclusive vision for the countries and people of the Pacific region.

“The vision of a Quality education for all in Pacific countries is encompassing and is meant to include all people of the Pacific and all levels of the education and training system. This vision when put into action, will ensure that all education systems and training institutions in the region create opportunities for all students to develop equally and without any discrimination or inequities that will disadvantage or marginalize them,” said Mr Jitoko.
 
“The PEDF embraces a ‘bottom up’ approach to the education sector development and planning, complemented by a ‘top down’ perspective based on global commitments and regional objectives entrenched in the Pacific Plan. The PEDF also addresses the special needs of the Smaller Island States (SIS) which have been prioritized in the Forum’s efforts.”

The three-day meeting will, among others, hear presentations and discussions on an implementation strategy for the PEDF; the education sub-sectors including Early Care and Childhood Education, Formal school education, Technical and Vocational Education and Training, non-formal education, Teacher Development; and system governance and administration. There will also be presentations and discussions on cross-cutting issues including a Regional IT Policy in education.
 

ENDS.