Education improves livelihoods of people in the Pacific

Latest Press Statement
02 August 2012
Education improves livelihoods of people in the Pacific
PRESS RELEASE (89/12
2nd August 2012

Children of Vanuatu

Education remained a key focus for improving the livelihoods and well-being of the people in the Pacific.

The 2012 Annual Pacific Plan Progress Report which was presented at the Pacific Plan Action Committee meeting held at the Forum Secretariat in Suva, Fiji, 31 July – 1 August, indicated the progress made during the past year in implementing the Pacific Education Development Framework (PEDF).

The Pacific Education Development Framework (PEDF) identifies key priorities in sub-sectors of education and training and in a number of cross-cutting themes. It brings together priorities identified in international commitments (such as the Millennium Development Goals and the Education for All goals) and in national education sectors of countries in the region.

The Pacific Plan Progress Report, which is based on progress reports from the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and other members of the Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP) as well as international agencies, reported that under the PEDF, CROP and international agencies are heavily involved in implementing a wide range of education initiatives.

“Notable amongst these have been collaborative efforts between the University of the South Pacific (USP) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) to roll out a regional Technical and Vocational Education and Training Framework for the Pacific, and work to develop a draft ICT in the Education Regional Framework,” the Report stated. These Frameworks have been endorsed by Forum Education Ministers in Vanuatu in May 2012.

In addition, the SPC is coordinating the development of the Regional Qualifications Framework, aimed at increasing regional harmonization in the benchmarking of qualifications to better enable people to equate their educational qualifications using up-to-date standards, and have their qualifications recognized internationally. Such work will contribute to labour mobility in the region in terms of employment.

The report recognizes the importance of research in the development of education policies and also to inform countries of progress towards their national education targets. The strengthening of research facilities in education in the region is an important recommendation in the report.

ENDS.

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