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Issue 15 The Newsletter of the PRIDE Project June 2009 In this Issue: From the PRIDE Director: From the PRIDE Director: Sharing 1 Sharing best practice: Celebrating notable achievements Best Practice: Celebrating notable achievements where a special ceremony is held to honour ten Teachers The Fiii Experience in Tonga 2 of the Year from the four Best Practice in Pacific Education 2 states of FSM—Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei and Yap—the Forum Ministers endorse new 3 Marshall Islands, Palau, Guam, Strategic Framework for Educa- Hawaii, American Samoa and tion in the Pacific the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands PRIDE S/NPC 2009 Workshop in 3 (CNMI). It is worth noting that Tonga the first six entities are New Titles in Pacific Education 4 members of the Pacific Islands Series launched Forum and are participants in the PRIDE Project. Pacific Education in Brief 4 Not only are the Teachers of the Year honoured at PEC; they are also feted in their The PRIDE Project (Pacific own countries through cash Regional Initiatives for the Delivery of and other awards. The basic Education) is implemented by the Institute of Education at USP and is teachers from Hawaii and jointly funded by the European Union CNMI also get to visit and New Zealand AID through the Washington DC and meet the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. Palau’s Minister of Education, Hon Masa-Aki Emesiochl (far left), Emery Wenty President of the United States. (Director of Education) and Andrew Tabuleal (Principal) congratulate Palau’s 2009 The connections between Teacher of the Year, Ms Epsie S West of Koror Elementary School. indigenous/local everyday S haring best practice in the presentations covered a broad cultural activities and school education is at the heart of range of topics: assessment and mathematics were ably the PRIDE Project. There a c c o u n t a b i l i t y , c l a s s r o o m d e m o n s t r a t e d a t a was much evidence of this at management, diverse learners, presentation by three PRIDE’s 10th regional conference early childhood education, colleagues from Alaska—Dr Jerry Lipka, Evelyn Yanez and PRIDE serves Cook Islands, Feder- on Sharing and showcasing education policy, education Dora Andrew-Ihrke. They ated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, best practice in Pacific technology, heath and physical showed us how to make Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, education held in Tonga in March education, higher education, geometrical shapes on Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon this year. The activities and language immersion, leadership, traditional cloth using Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, and outcomes of the conference are professional development, science traditional story and expert- Vanuatu. the focus of other articles in this education, literacy, mathematics, newsletter. social studies, special education apprentice modelling. In this article, I describe the and rethinking education. Here the workshop 26th Pacific Educational Conference Countries in the South Pacific participants used our body (PEC) held in Guam from 14-17 have much to learn from our parts to measure the ‘cloth’ July, one of the meetings in the colleagues in the north. At the (represented by paper) and northern Pacific that I was PEC, I was particularly impressed became quite precise and fortunate to attend and which by the focus on learning and accurate in designing a head piece. We learned that story- provided much food for thought. teaching, on the professional telling is central to the Yupiaq Here I share my observations and development of teachers and Eskimo, whose traditional insights. education personnel, and on values, beliefs and lessons in The PEC has been an annual recognising and celebrating becoming a Yupiaq are passed event, bringing together thousands excellence in teaching. on from one generation to the of teachers, principals, educators, The importance of forming researchers, administrators and strategic partnerships was also next. We also learned about department/ministry of education evident, as the conference was a some studies that have shown Editor: Libby Cass officials from the entities and partnership between the Pacific that students undertaking the Layout:: Marlie Rota jurisdictions affiliated to the United Resources for Education and Yupiaq maths curriculum States of America. It provides Learning (PREL), the Guam outperform those doing the ISSN#: 1813-0216 opportunities for the participants Department of Education and two regular maths curriculum. Tel: (679) 323.2783 to share best classroom practices tertiary providers-the University of (More information can be Fax: (679) 323.1532 o b t a i n e d o n e-mail: pride@usp.ac.fj that enhance the quality of student Guam and Guam Community http://www.mathinaculturalcontext.org.) Web: www.usp.ac.fj/pride learning. College. The 26th PEC had Preparing the Valuing excellence in teaching This is just one example of the Pacific Child for Life as its theme and is at the forefront of the PEC, many presentations that were (Continued on page 4) The Fiji experience in Tonga the Conference region. Educational tours to three whole programme, summed up by programme were sub-project sites in Tongatapu left Mr Wenty, Director of Education devoted to show- participants with a much expanded Palau, as “definitely in a league of casing the most vision of successful and socio- their own”. Many thanks to the EU successful of the economically sustainable and and NZAID and the highly capable 1 6 m e m b e r cultural y vibrant opportunities for PRIDE Project team led by Dr countries’ sub- quality educational development for Priscilla Puamau for a very projects. our children at early childhood and successful conference. Fiji chose to primary school levels. present on the The five-member delegation Talica K. Malani Drug Awareness from Fiji evidently made an National Substance Abuse Advisory Council workshops for impressive contribution to the Head Teachers and Principals. Our presentation was colourful Members of the Fiji delegation with USP Vice interactive, but T Chancellor Professor Rajesh Chandra he five-day programme on i m p o r t a n t l y i t “Sharing Best Practice in provided data on sub-project Pacific Education” began with objectives; activities and the a 7.5 Richter scale earthquake that participants (885 teachers and set everyone scrambling out of their 212,607 students). The Fiji booth rooms and hurrying on to the at the showcase displayed mostly official opening. The three days of Pasifika, Rotuman and Fijian artifacts Conference were packed with set against a backdrop of green and red and depicting national ge 2 informative and stimulating multiculturalism. The showcase Pa presentations about Pacific educational project experiences that provided a unique experience of were being supported by NZAID Pasifika culturally sensitive approaches to the educational and the European Union through the PRIDE Project. Other parts of challenges facing the children of our Fiji’s booth at the showcase Exhibition, highlighting the PRIDE-funded drugs and substance abuse awareness work Sharing, Showcasing and Celebrating Achievements in Pacific Education The Solomon Islands collaboration on capacity- presenters shared their building in the education experiences on envi- management information ronmental education, systems with Palau and Mar- while the Vanuatu shall Islands. presenters described a The passion and commitment comprehensive pilot of the presenters and the project for teacher honest articulation of experi- sue 15, June 2009 capacity-building. ences and case studies from The theme ‘Education the 15 countries contributed for all—mobilising to a rich and valuable confer- communities to meet ence. A key success factor Participants pose for a photograph outside the Fa’onelua Convention Centre in education goals’ drew presen- was the support and signifi- cific Pride Is Nuku’alofa tations from four countries. cant contribution made by Pa N uku‘alofa in the Kingdom of Tonga at first-hand stories of achievements, Samoa’s presentation was on the in-country state/national was the venue for five key PRIDE challenges and lessons learned in Pacific ‘Developing a sustainable project coordinators, who meetings/events in March 2009. education. Participants and observers model for inclusive education’ continue to be the ‘wind PRIDE’s 18 state/national project coordina- from the University of the South Pacific, while Fiji presented on beneath the wings’ of not just tors gathered to discuss the implementa- the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, ‘Education for the world we their country Ministries or tion status of 109 current subprojects, and One Laptop Per Child Oceania, AusAID live in’ through their drug Departments of Education two policy bodies—the Project Steering and DUCIER from the University of a w a r en es s s u b p r o j ec t . but also of the PRIDE team. Committee and the Forum Education Min- South Australia also attended. Strengthening col aboration Co-host, Tonga’s Ministry isters—also held meetings. But perhaps the Some examples will serve to illus- and partnerships between of Education, Women Affairs highlight was PRIDE’s 10th regional confer- trate the range of topics that country schools, cultures and commu- and Culture, organised field ence on sharing best practice in Pacific representatives covered in their presen- nities was the focus for Palau, visits for delegates to the education, followed by an exhibition and tations. ‘Sharing best practice in non- and Tonga gave a presenta- newly furbished and re- the launch of two more publications in the formal education’ was the topic for both tion on an integrated ap- sourced IE Centre and to the Pacific Education Series: The Role of TVET in the Cook Islands representatives, who proach to the topic ‘From Taimaliemeilangi and Vai ko the Pacific Secondary Schools and Inclusive described supporting communities in policy development to imple- Latai kindergarten centres, Education in the Pacific. education, and the Marshall Islands repre- mentation in early childhood where the delegates enjoyed PRIDE’s 15 countries have much to sentatives, who described enhancing education’. delightful entertainment per- celebrate. From the journey that had its parental skil s to support children’s learn- Niue, Nauru, Tokelau and formed by children, parents humble beginnings in 2004, PRIDE has trav- ing. Tuvalu shared their sto- and teachers. Delegates were elled a fair distance with many positive ‘Sharing best practice in planning’ was ries on improving the quality also treated to a social eve- outcomes and impacts. This was evident in the topic for the PNG presenters, who of education in the areas of ning hosted by PRIDE at the the sharing that took place over the four- discussed their visit to Samoa to study formative assessment, sustain- beautiful Vakaloa Resort, day conference in Tonga. Over 60 regional the sector wide approach, and the Ki- able livelihoods, curriculum where they showcased their participants, comprising PRIDE National/ ribati presenters, who shared their development and teacher dancing skills and enjoyed a State Project Coordinators and senior thoughts on the processes and challenges development, and the four sumptuous Tongan feast. Sereana Tagivakatini education representatives closely associ- they faced in strategic planning. states of FSM described their PRIDE Project ated with PRIDE activities, gathered to hear experience of a sub-regional Forum Ministers endorse new strategic framework for education in the Pacific majority of children with disabili- ties in our region receive very little if any schooling. Children in remote and isolated areas are also disadvantaged.” The Forum Education Minis- ters considered the recommen- dations of the FBEAP review and endorsed a new strategic direc- tion for regional education in the form of a revised framework. “This new framework, enti- tled the Pacific Education Devel- opment Framework, articulates these challenges and priorities and provides a platform for part- ners to coordinate and assist countries,” stated Mr Slade. “It also includes areas that were not so prominent in 2001 Forum Education Ministers in Tonga March 2009 when FBEAP was first developed. Commenting on the Review in review has identified many similar This includes the development Pacific Prid his opening remarks at the meet- T he Pacific Islands Forum Edu- cation Ministers Meeting priorities for further development challenge that the region faces (FEdMM) which took place in ing, Secretary General of the Pa- of their education sectors,” said with HIV and AIDS, and Informa- Nuku’alofa, in the Kingdom of cific Islands Forum Secretariat, Mr Slade. tion and Communications Tech- Tonga in March this year was a Tuiloma Neroni Slade, said the In the main, the review con- nology.” On the theme of the meet- e Is significant meeting because it en- review was conducted by an inde- cluded that countries are doing dorsed a new strategic direction pendent team of consultants, who fairly well in the area of access to ing, “Partnerships in Pacific Edu- sue 15, June 2 for regional education, as recom- visited 14 Forum Island Countries primary schooling and it is pleasing cation” the Forum Secretary mended by a review of the Forum and identified many challenges the to see that some countries are General commended the key Basic Education Action Plan region faces in t he delivery of edu- commencing fee-free primary edu- role of the development partners (FBEAP) that took place in 2008. cation. “It found that, despite the cation. However, the review also and the donor community in (Forum Education Ministers en- substantial differences in social, found that “many countries have assisting countries through re- gional and multilateral mecha- 009 dorsed the Forum Basic Education historical, demographic and eco- access issues at the secondary Action Plan in 2001 and it has been nomic contexts, the 14 countries level and most are not doing par- nisms in the education sector. implemented th under review are experien rough the PRIDE cing ticularly well in the provision of project.) many of the same challenges. The early childhood education. The Dr Helen Tavola Social Policy Adviser, PIFS PRIDE’S STATE/NATIONAL PROJECT COORDINATORS’ 2009 WORKSHOP IN NUKU‘ALOFA, TONGA Page 3 reporting requirements, including provision of M&E reports. Work- acquittal documentation shop time was also provided for (iii) to inform the project coordinators coordinators to complete any about the Subproject Impact Study outstanding M&E reports. Finaly, and solicit their support in the collec- project coordinators were briefed tion of data at the country level. on the PRIDE Subproject Impact Unlike previous workshops, Study when the findings from the where the focus was on capacity- pilot study in Fiji were highlighted building, this workshop allowed pro- and plans to conduct the study in ject coordinators to prepare and selected countries explained. present a 15-minute PowerPoint The outcomes of the work- presentation on the status of individual shop included: subproject implementation, using a (i) a development of a more up-to- standard reporting template. Follow- date profile of the subproject im- ing the presentations, general discus- plementation at the country level, sions where held on emerging issues (ii) building of understanding on the Regional participants at the PRIDE NPC Workshop held from 18th – 19th March and challenges encountered in the main tasks to accomplish for the A two-day annual regional and timelines, and impact evaluation. administration and implementation of timely completion of subproject State/National Project Coor- The main objectives of the workshop the subprojects. implementation and dinators’ (S/NPCs) workshop were: Next, one-on-one country con- (iii) deadlines for the completion of was held in Tonga from 18-19th (i) for S/NPCs to report on the status of sultations between the project coordi- M&E reports and acquittals docu- March where all 18 S/NPCs met implementation of all subprojects at the nators and country advisers were ments. with the PRIDE team to discuss country level conducted in order to map out strate- issues related to subproject imple- (ii) to remind S/NPCs about their respon- gies to resolve issues hampering sub- Pala Wari, PRIDE Project mentation, subproject strategies sibility to provide timely PRIDE M&E project implementation and timely NEW TITLES IN PACIFIC EDUCATION SERIES LAUNCHED people, participants and presenters, cific. His presentations are included and range from the philosophical in this book, providing an overview underpinnings of inclusive education of international developments. to practical guidelines for inclusive The workshop included on-site practices in schools, with a special case studies of TVET programmes focus on the education of children in schools in Palau, as well as case with disabilities. studies of programmes in Fiji and This book is intended primarily Papua New Guinea. These are fully for providers, practitioners, aca- described in the book. The core of demics, professionals, teacher edu- the book consists of the outcomes cators, policy-makers, disabled peo- of the many group discussions. In a ple’s associations, NGOs and re- very real sense this is a book writ- searchers engaged in the areas of ten by Pacific people for Pacific inclusive education and the educa- people. Issues discussed include tion of children with disabilities. building traditional knowledge into The Role of TVET in Pacific Secon- TVET curricula, TVET in primary The two new titles in the Pacific Education Series launched on dary Schools: New Visions, New Path- schools, training TVET teachers, 24th March, 2009, in Nuku’alofa, Tonga. ways, is the outcome of a workshop and TVET for students with special O n 24th March at the Dateline gional workshop held in Nadi, Fiji held in Palau 2006 attended by edu- needs. Hotel, Tonga two new vol- from 1 – 5 October, 2007. PRIDE cators from 15 Pacific Island coun- The book is intended primarily umes of the Pacific Education worked in close partnership with tries. The focus of the workshop for planners, policy-makers, school Series were launched by H.E. Ms five other development partners was the role of technical and voca- principals and teachers involved in Christine Bogle, Resident NZ High and the Fiji Ministry of Education in tional education and training (TVET) the delivery of secondary education Commissioner to Tonga: Inclusive the planning, implementation and in the secondary school curriculum. throughout the Pacific. Its vision is Education in the Pacific, Pacific Educa- funding of this workshop on inclu- The workshop was run by the a new style of Pacific secondary PRIDE Project in collaboration with schooling with a holistic curricu- tion Series No. 6, edited by Priscilla sive education. Puamau and Frances Pene, and The The workshop was attended by the UNESCO International Centre lum, incorporating both the voca- Role of TVET in Pacific Secondary a total of 44 people: regional partici- for TVET (UNEVOC), the Pacific tional and the academic, and deeply Association of TVET and Pacific grounded in local values and wis- Page 4 Schools: New Visions, New Pathways, pants from 13 Forum countries and Pacific Education Series No. 7, ed- Tokelau, resource persons, repre- Resources for Education and Learn- dom. ited by Epeli Tokai and Jennie Teas- sentatives from the seven partners ing. UNEVOC Director Dr Rupert dale. and three observers. Maclean gave three keynote ad- Inclusive Education in the Pacific is The book contains 14 chapters, dresses that opened up new options Libby Cass an outcome of PRIDE’s eighth re- written by the workshop resource for school-based TVET in the Pa- PRIDE Information Specialist Sharing best practice: Celebrating notable achievements (Continued from page 1) organising a national conference for important role of providing happening in Pacific classrooms. shown to the PEC participants. teachers and principals in the way opportunities for sharing best South Pacific countries are also There is much to be learned that Palau has done, recently practice amongst the body of encouraged to send teachers and between and across countries and convening its 15th annual education teacher educators at the regional principals to the next PEC which cultures. There is a divide between convention. At the regional level, level. Again, the IOE at USP is best will take place in Pohnpei/FSM in the North and South Pacific, i.e. the Institute of Education (IOE) at placed to take a key role in 2011. (The PREL Board of sue 15, June 2009 between countries that are still the University of the South Pacific developing professional networks Directors made the decision that historically and politically affiliated may be the best institution to take and sharing for teachers of teachers. the PEC will now be held bi- to the United States and those on the role that PREL currently Ministries of Education may also annually, rather than annually as bound in some way to England, plays in the North Pacific. The IOE like to consider instituting the hitherto, due to the current New Zealand and Australia. is certainly strategically well placed Teacher of the Year award in their economic crisis.) Not only will In order to bridge the gap and to begin the tradition of organising individual countries, encouraging they learn about best practice in Pacific Pride Is eventually close it, much effort is the first educational conference in every school to begin this different contexts, they can also required. The PRIDE Project, in the South Pacific for practising worthwhile project. What is share what is happening in their close collaboration and partnership teachers, principals and other important is that a start is made in own classrooms as well as develop with PREL, is making some progress appropriate stakeholders. r e c o g n i s i n g a n d r e w a r d i n g rich professional networks. in this area. The Pacific Association of excellence in teaching. This will Ministries of Education in the Teacher Educators (PATE) needs to place the emphasis where it counts Priscilla Puamau, PhD South Pacific may like to consider be revitalised to continue its most—on what is actually Project Director Pacific education news in brief Mr Manoj Kumar resigned was farewelled at a lunch hosted by the utilisation of PREL consultants in held in American Samoa in July 2008. from the University with effect from USP-PRIDE on Wednesday 29th July. regional and sub-regional workshops PREL and PRIDE continue to July 18th. He joined PRIDE as Among other duties, Gabriela served and national subprojects in FSM, RMI network on issues of common Assistant accountant on 15th Oct, as EU’s representative on PRIDE and Palau. The then PRIDE Director, concern to their organisations. 2007 after serving in USP’s Finance affairs for the past four years. Dr Bob Teasdale, was also invited to The 21st PRIDE PMC Department for 8 years. Manoj has The Pacific Education attend the PREL Board of Directors’ meeting was held on Monday 22nd migrated with his family to the community lost a leader and friend meeting and the Pacific Educational June at the PRIDE Conference Room United States. through the loss of Dr Tom Barlow, Conference in 2005/2006 and this in USP. PRIDE welcomes one of its President and CEO for PREL. PRIDE was reciprocated by a high-powered Cook Islands has a new own team members, Mr Leonaitasi gratefully acknowledges his keen delegation from PREL making a Secretary for Education, Ms Sharyn (Tasi) Taukafa in his new role as efforts to improve collaboration presentation and attending both the Paio. Ms Paio replaces Mr John PRIDE Project Manager. Tasi between the northern and southern Forum Education Ministers of Hermann. Tuvalu also has a new replaces John Stunnenberg after Pacific. In particular, Tom was Education Meeting and the PRIDE Permanent Secretary for Education, acting in the position since the instrumental in developing true Project Steering Committee in late Mrs Olialuga Iosua, who replaced Mr beginning of this year. partnerships between PREL and 2006. PRIDE was also represented by Minute Alapati Taupo. The Head of EC Social PRIDE, which have since collaborated current director, Dr Priscilla Puamau, Sector, Ms Gabriela Koehler-Raue, on a number of initiatives including at the Pacific Educational Conference http:www.usp.ac.fj/pride
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