April Newsletter 2025

Jun 25, 2025 | Newsletters | 0

Happy 9th Birthday to Sista!

April was a big month—full of reflection, milestones, and momentum. We celebrated our birthday by asking the #SistaTeam what moment made them feel most proud. Their answers highlighted the strength of our shared vision and how much we’ve grown—together.

We also kicked off our strategic planning process, hosted internal and external workshops, and said farewell to our incredible Australian volunteer, Katherine Webber, whose support over the past seven months helped shape this new chapter.

The team participated in the launch of Phase II of the Pacific Partnership to End Violence Against Women and Girls and joined the Gender-Based Violence Multi-Sector Service Delivery Protocol Validation Workshop. We also joined regional partners in Fiji for the CEDAW Pacific Technical Cooperation session and civil society workshops to strengthen treaty body reporting across the Pacific.

It was a month of impact and deep reflection as we also honoured the memory of our beloved #soulSista Astrid, whose work and influence continue to guide us.

Projects

Mary Rose Ephraim – Sista Gat Style, Vanuatu Daily Post

This month we’re celebrating the gorgeous and unapologetic Mary Rose Ephraim!

Hailing from the beautiful island of Vanua Lava in Banks, Mary Rose is all about embracing confidence and kindness—especially during tough times.

A science graduate from Lycée Lab, she’s currently balancing part-time and volunteer work, with a dream to one day give back to her community in a meaningful way.

Influenced by her strong and stylish older sister, Mary Rose describes her own fashion sense as trendy, comfortable, and fun.

She believes in the power of being unapologetically yourself and lives by the quote, “In Christ alone my hope is found.”

 #SistaGatStyle #YoungWomanBanks #Vibrant #Confident #Kind #Unapologetic #SelfCare #Fun

Launch of the Pacific Partnership to End Violence Against Women and Girls Phase II (2024 – 2027)

On April 3rd, we joined the launch of Phase II of the Pacific Partnership to End Violence Against Women and Girls (2024–2027) at Ramada Resort. Funded by Australia and the EU and led by UN Women, the program spans seven Pacific countries — including Vanuatu — to promote gender equality and strengthen survivor services.

Powerful messages were shared by MP Marie Louise Milne, High Commissioner Max Willis, and Minister Ralph Regenvanu, all calling for unity, leadership, and long-term commitment to end violence against women and girls.

One key concern raised was the future of the program once donor funding ends. While many achievements were celebrated, speakers asked how countries and communities can sustain the work without external support.

The event was a timely reminder that governments, communities, and organisations must work together to keep the momentum going.

Gender-Based Violence Multi-Sector Service Delivery Protocol (SDP) Validation Workshop

Our Executive Director participated in the Gender-Based Violence Multi-Sector Service Delivery Protocol (SDP) Validation Workshop at Ramada Resort by Wyndham Port Vila. Led by the Department of Women’s Affairs, in partnership with UN Women, through the Pacific Partnership to End Violence Against Women and Girls, we reviewed the updated version that offers expanded guidance on existing sections, including legal and policy frameworks, minimum standards, response and referral, and coordination. It also introduces additional guidance in critical areas such as multi-sector essential services, GBV in emergencies, data management, information sharing, and training.

Photo Credits: UN Women Pacific

Sista Strategic planning

We kicked started April looking ahead at where to focus our passion, dedication and resources on to make the most change and be of service to Vanuatu.

The Sista Strategic planning was an intensive process that allowed us to look back at what has been accomplished, what remains to do and what we are working ahead for through a series of workshops internally with Sista staff and our dynamic board and then externally with Sista’s stakeholders invited to weigh in on Sista’s strategic plan.

Thank you to our stakeholders show took their time to attend the external workshop to help shape the road ahead for Sista.

A big part of making this possible was our Australian Volunteer, Katherine Webber, who joined us in September last year through the Australian Volunteers Program. Over seven months, Katherine supported strategic planning, strengthened our internal systems, built team capacity, and brought positive energy into the office every day.

Katherine, thank you for your guidance, laughter, and leadership—lukim yu and all the best!

Wota i Toktok: Call for Artists Extended – Water for Women Fund and University of Technology, Sydney  

This month, our Communications & Advocacy Coordinator extended the deadline for the Wota i Toktok artist callout to Monday 21 April 2025, allowing more time for Port Vila-based artists to apply. The project invites artists to creatively explore the links between water, culture, and storytelling, with selected participants receiving support to develop new works, join a mid-year workshop, and feature in an exhibition at Fondation Suzanne Bastien and an online gallery.

Keep your eyes on our platforms to stay updated with this exciting new project!

Rise, Lead and Change: Intergenerational Dialogue with Young Women Leadership Program – CARE in Vanuatu

On Thursday 17 April 2025, we partnered with CARE in Vanuatu to facilitate an inspiring Intergenerational Dialogue themed, “Rise, Lead and Change: How can we help build women leaders for the futur?” with the Young Women Leadership Program cohort in Port Via.

We were fortunate to have three amazing women join the panel: Vomboe Molly, the Operations Manager at World Vision Vanuatu; Georgilla Worwor, the Policy, Research & Advocacy Coordinator at the Vanuatu National Youth Council and an alumna of the Young Women’s Leadership Program; and Rosina Lore, Sista’s very own Project Coordinator.

The panelists shared powerful personal stories of rising into leadership while navigating cultural expectations, gender norms, and professional challenges. They reflected on the importance of self-confidence, the pressure many women feel to “do it all,” and the need for supportive spaces where women can truly thrive—not just survive. The discussion also highlighted how resilience, compassion, and cultural identity shape leadership that is both grounded and transformative. Most importantly, it served as a reminder that leadership isn’t a solo journey—it’s about lifting each other up and walking forward together.

As one YWLP Participant shared, “Acknowledge one another in your workplace because there’s always struggles behind every smile” – #RiseLeadAndChange

THANK YOU to all the young women who joined us and to the powerhouse panelists!

Sista Accelerator Hub – We Rise Coalition

There are a total of 13 participants representing 7 organizations who are part of this workshop series. The focus of the first session was to get to know the participating organizations and understand their capacities so that we can better support them throughout the upcoming workshops.

The workshop began with introductions from the Sista team, followed by a short briefing on the purpose of the series and an overview of the day’s agenda — which centered on setting up the foundation of an organization. Each organization then had the opportunity to introduce themselves, share their goals, and outline how they plan to achieve them.

We then moved into exploring the concepts of vision and mission. This session prompted valuable discussions around developing both. While a few organizations already had existing vision and mission statements that simply needed refining, the majority gained a clearer understanding of the difference between the two, their significance, and began drafting their own. The Sista team see this as an ongoing journey — We then don’t expect everything to be finalized right away, but we’re confident that, over time, each organization will further shape and strengthen these core statements.

This was just Workshop 1 — we have four more to go, each focusing on key components of organizational development.

A big thank you to the We Rise Coalition for making this initiative possible and for supporting Sista in strengthening emerging organizations.

Sista and GET team Monthly Check-in – CARE in Vanuatu

On April 30, the our Executive Director and Project Coordinator, met with the Gender Equality Together (GET) team, represented by Leikita Kalorib and Isabelle Charlie, for a partnership check-in!

The primary focus of the meeting was to update on the Young Womens Leadership Program (YWLP) activities done in April and confirm the dates for the YWLP workshops led by Sista in May.

The workshops were set to cover important topics such as Feminism and Online Safety on social media, offering young women valuable insights into navigating digital spaces confidently.

These activities were planned to take place in both Port Vila and Tanna, providing YWLP participants with opportunities for learning and engagement.

We look forward to confirming the dates for these workshops and to continue to work closely with these #YoungWomenLeaders !

Technical Working Group- Advancing Women’s Leadership and Political Participation

Our Executive Director attended the first meeting of the year of the Technical Working Group to Advance Women’s Leadership and Political Participation, led by Department of Women’s Affairs. Other members included Port Vila City Council of Women, Balance of Power and the Vanuatu Electoral Office.

The working group looked at the mid-term review of the National Gender Equality Policy and reviewed the work plan and determined that all stakeholders working in the space need to receive an information session on the amendments to the Electoral Act and the Political Parties Registration Act, and the working group will work towards hosting one in the near future.

VANGO Board Meeting

Our Executive Director serves on the board of Vanuatu Association of NGO’s (VANGO). On Wednesday 23 April 2025, the VANGO board met for the second time this year with a highlight being the presentation by Jilda Shem on VANGO Organization Capacity Report.

Pacific Technical Cooperation Session of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women

Our Program Manager was privileged to participate in the Pacific Technical Cooperation session of the CEDAW Committee, held from 7–11 April 2025, and the Civil Society CEDAW Workshops hosted by IRAW from 12–13 April 2025 in Fiji. Both events aimed to advance gender equality in the Pacific by fostering dialogue, learning, and collaboration among diverse stakeholders.

The Technical Cooperation session featured thematic discussions on key issues such as women’s political participation, gender-based violence, and climate justice. These were followed by formal country exchanges between Fiji, Tuvalu, and the Solomon Islands with the CEDAW Committee. This historic session marked the first time the full CEDAW Committee reviewed country reports in the Pacific, reinforcing regional efforts to implement CEDAW and promote women’s rights. The Sista Program Manager was proud to join the Vanuatu Delegation made up of the High Commissioner of Vanuatu to Fiji, Viran Brown;The First Secretary, Diana Taga and another Civil Society Representative, Sylvie Niras.

The closed civil society workshops hosted by IRAW brought together CSOs from across the Pacific to examine their role in CEDAW reporting within their respective countries. The sessions explored strategies to promote national implementation, identified available resources, and culminated in the formation of a regional CSO CEDAW reporting working group to facilitate resource sharing and mutual support.

Our Program Manager returned with valuable insights into civil society’s role in CEDAW reporting, along with a deeper understanding of treaty body reporting mechanisms.

CARE Partnership reflection meeting

The Partner Reflection Workshop, held on 24 April 2025 at the Vanuatu Cultural Centre, was a half-day session designed to strengthen collaboration and mutual understanding between CARE and its partners. The event aimed to foster trust, reflect on partnership achievements and challenges, and explore opportunities for more effective, mutually beneficial support moving forward.

A key session titled “Sharing Our Context” invited partners to discuss their organisation’s mission, strategic priorities for the next 1–5 years, and the main opportunities and challenges they face in achieving those goals.

Our Program Manager and Executive Director attended the session and were glad to share the achievements and challenges of the CARE–Sista partnership over the years. They look forward to continuing to grow and learn together through this partnership.

We Rise Coalition and Sista Check-in

On 30th April, We Rise Coalition’s (WRC) communications officer had a lunch meeting with our Executive Director and Program Manager.

The objective for the meeting was to check in with the WRC communications officer on how she is handling her workload, what support she needs, and highlighting what is expected of her not just from the coalition, but also from Sista.

Action points from that meeting are that the WRC communications officer is going to develop an activity plan for her tasks comprising of the two remaining months, and that Sista is going to assist her in getting IT development support so that she can better manage the WRC website.

Other News:

With heavy hearts, we bid farewell to our dear friend, mentor and true #SoulSista – Dr Astrid Kersten.

Astrid was the Founder and Director of Human Capacity Development International (HCDI), but to us, she was so much more. She was our guide, our cheerleader, our board member, and one of the first people who believed in Sista before it was even fully formed.

In our early days, Astrid quietly and powerfully stood by our side – helping shape our constitution, mentoring the team, and always looking for ways to build our capacity through thoughtful advice and mini-training with the team.

Her impact runs deep. From helping us develop and revamp the #StanapStrongWebsity, to strengthening bold initiatives like Rod Blong Jenis and Women Hold Up Half the Sky, Astrid played a key role in moving the feminist movement forward in Vanuatu.

She stood with us through it all – the tears, the laughter and the quiet moments of reflection. We will forever cherish every memory, every word of wisdom, every step we took together.

Tankiu tumas, Astrid.

STAFE Grant – Ambassade de France

In April, the Sista team was honoured to receive an official visit from the Ambassade de France au Vanuatu, who congratulated us on securing funding through the STAFE (Support to Tissu Associatif des Français à l’Étranger) program. This support will go towards developing a French-language component on the Stanap Strong website, ensuring important information on gender-based violence is accessible to our French-speaking communities across Vanuatu. We’re excited to strengthen our outreach and inclusivity through this initiative.

Strengthening Sista Operations

The Finance and HR teams had a productive month strengthening internal systems and supporting the broader work of the organization.

Quarterly financial reports were submitted to key donors including CARE International, We Rise, and the Urgent Action Fund (UAF). The UAF grant was particularly crucial in helping the Sista team and network members affected by the recent earthquake in Vanuatu, enabling the replacement of damaged office equipment and facilitating a workforce seminar in partnership with the private sector. We also submitted the finance report for the Pacific Feminist Fund, which supported Sista’s participation at the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) in New York.

On the HR side, an Expression of Interest was launched for a new Communications and Advocacy Officer, with recruitment progressing well. A virtual interview was also conducted with an incoming Australian volunteer who will assist with reviewing and strengthening finance and HR policies and procedures. The team also collaborated on reviewing the Business Continuity Plan to ensure preparedness.

The month concluded with the successful organization of Sista’s move back to the Chuan store building. While the process was demanding, the team looked forward to settling into this familiar space.

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NEWS

‘The scars children carry can last a lifetime’ August 13, 2026
Amid the public outrage and questions over the President’s recent pardoning of convicted rapists and the alarming increase in child abuse cases in Vanuatu, the REACH Family Centre is calling on Parliament to pass the proposed Child Protection Bill, saying stronger laws are needed to hold people who abuse children accountable. Every day at the REACH Family Centre, Mansen Roy and Salokie Narfi work alongside children experiencing challenges no child should face. Some are struggling with overwhelming stress. Others are navigating violence at home, bullying, online harm and the fear of speaking out. For Narfi, a counsellor and group work practitioner for children and adolescents, the hardest part is seeing how many suffer in silence. “Children want to come for help, but they are scared of the consequences,” she says. “Some are afraid their parents will find out. Others are afraid nobody will believe them.” Using drawing, play therapy and other child-friendly approaches, Narfi helps children express emotions they cannot find the words for. She remembers one child who repeatedly blacked out at school. “Through counselling, the child understood the emotional pain carried,” she says. “The mother also received counselling. Today that child is brighter, more confident and looking forward to the future.” But not every story has such a hopeful ending. Roy, REACH’s Acting Executive Director, says many of the challenges children face are made worse by gaps in protection and understanding. “Violence against children remains one of the biggest issues,” he says. “We should teach, guide and love children,” he says. “Wrong treatment can create trauma that children carry for their whole lives, like a scar that never goes away.” Against this backdrop, REACH is pushing for the proposed Child Protection Bill to reach Parliament and become law. Both Roy and Narfi say the legislation would strengthen their work by creating a clearer approach to responding when children are at risk of serious harm, including sexual abuse. It would also help place children’s wellbeing at the centre of decision-making. “This Bill will support our work in the field,” Mansen says. “The justice system punishes perpetrators, but what about the survivors? Children also need healing, psychological support and protection to move forward into the future.” Narfi says the law would also ensure serious cases of abuse are recognised early and responded to properly. “Children are the future of the country,” she says. “If this Bill passes, we can build a stronger Vanuatu with children who are supported, protected and able to become the future leaders of our nation.” REACH is one of the few organisations in Vanuatu providing holistic support to entire families, working with mothers, fathers and children together because lasting change begins at home. Yet the demand for counselling and mental health support continues to grow, while resources remain limited. Roy believes passing the Child Protection Bill is no longer simply a legal decision – it is a moral one. “Child protection affects everyone because every one of us was once a child,” he says. For the children who are too frightened to speak, and for those still carrying invisible scars, the time to act is now. SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

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Man remanded over alleged sexual assault of four-year-old girl August 13, 2026
A man from Tanna has been remanded in custody after being charged over the alleged sexual assault of a four-year-old girl at Salili on Efate last week. The accused, identified in a remand warrant as Simeon Tom Yatika, appeared before the Port Vila Magistrates’ Court on 11 August 2026. He is charged with unlawful sexual intercourse, contrary to section 97(1) of the Penal Code [CAP 135]. The prosecution applied for the accused to be held in custody, and the court granted the application. The warrant directs the officer in charge of the Correctional Centre to keep Yatika in custody until his next appearance on 25 August 2026 at 9am. A source close to the Magistrates’ Court said the court was informed that the alleged victim suffered injuries and experienced difficulty using the toilet after the incident. The court also reportedly heard that the accused had been receiving mental health care but had not attended medical appointments for some time. The circumstances surrounding that information remain matters for the court and relevant medical professionals to consider. The allegations have not been tested at trial. The accused has not been convicted and is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The case has caused concern and renewed public frustration over the protection of children and the handling of sexual offence cases in Vanuatu. Many members of the public are expected to question whether vulnerable children are receiving adequate protection, medical care and support after alleged abuse. The case also comes amid wider criticism from women’s groups over the treatment of child sex offenders and calls for stronger safeguards in decisions involving pardons and accountability. Women’s groups have recently urged the Government to review the presidential pardon process following the pardoning of men convicted of sexually abusing children. Community members have called for the justice system to respond firmly to allegations involving children, while also stressing the importance of allowing the courts to assess the evidence fairly and independently. Under Vanuatu law, sexual intercourse with a child under 13 is a serious criminal offence, with the law providing a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. The prosecution must nevertheless prove the charge beyond reasonable doubt before a conviction can be entered. The matter remains before the Port Vila Magistrates’ Court. The child’s identity has been withheld to protect her privacy. SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

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Cervical cancer preventable, yet a leading cause of death among Vanuatu women August 12, 2026
Minister of Health Robert Bohn said cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of death among women in Vanuatu, yet it is entirely preventable through vaccination, screening and early treatment. Speaking at the official launch of the Vanuatu National Cervical Cancer Elimination Strategy 2026–2035 yesterday, Minister Bohn said access to these highly effective prevention measures had previously been limited or unavailable in Vanuatu. As a result, women were often diagnosed at advanced stages of the disease, when treatment options were limited and survival rates were lower. Minister Bohn said the launch reaffirmed a collective commitment to ensuring women and girls have access to prevention, screening and treatment services, with their health, dignity and future at the centre of the national effort. “The Vanuatu Strategy aligns with the World Health Organization’s Global Strategy to Accelerate the Elimination of Cervical Cancer as a Public Health Problem and its 90-70-90 coverage targets: 90 per cent of girls fully vaccinated with HPV by age 15; 70 per cent of women screened with an HPV test or other high-performance test by ages 35 and 45; and 90 per cent of women with cervical pre-cancer treated and women with invasive cancer appropriately managed,” he said. The Minister of Health said the Government of Vanuatu, through this strategy, is reaffirming its commitment to achieving these goals by 2035. Mr. Bohn said Vanuatu now has accessible, culturally appropriate and scalable approaches to prevention, and together the country can make a difference for women and families across the country. “The country has already made significant progress on this pathway, and today I would like to acknowledge the persistence, advocacy and hard work of health and community workers to reduce the preventable burden, incidence, illness and death caused by cervical cancer,” he said. “An opportunistic screening programme has existed since 2008, with national Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-based screening implemented in 2022, and close to 20,000 women screened to date. The hard work of the Vanuatu Ministry of Health, the Vanuatu Family Health Association and the Ikkana Cancer Society has meant that access to screening has been made available across all provinces, with over 3,500 women receiving treatment.” Mr. Bohn said Vanuatu is also protecting girls from cervical cancer through HPV vaccination, with the national HPV vaccination programme beginning in 2023 and 16,412 girls vaccinated to date. He said this ensures that today’s girls grow up protected, empowered and free from a disease that previously often arrived too late for treatment. “With continued awareness and coordinated delivery strategies, communities learn that the HPV vaccine protects their children and they therefore want their children to be vaccinated,” he said. “As we endorse this document, we acknowledge the journey of women and families affected, the conscientious efforts of health and community workers to improve health outcomes and the valued collaboration of international partners which strengthens our progress. “The Strategy presents a roadmap to strengthen and sustain current efforts, prioritising primary health care, public health approaches and people-centred service delivery tailored to the Vanuatu context.” Minister Bohn said sustained progress would require long-term, sustainable financing and continued coordinated efforts across sectors and disciplines to ensure Vanuatu remains on the path to eliminating cervical cancer. He said the Government of Vanuatu is committed to ensuring activities are adequately coordinated, funded and maintained over time. “Government commits to ensuring that no woman is left unseen, no girl unprotected, and no life lost to a preventable disease,” he said. The senior consultant in obstetrics and gynaecology, medical lead for the cervical cancer screening programme and chairperson of the development of the cervical cancer elimination strategy, Dr Boniface Damutalau, said the document launched yesterday provides a roadmap for combating cervical cancer. He said cervical cancer screening began in 2022 using new technologies to detect pre-cancerous lesions, and the launch of the strategy provides guidance for screening, vaccination, treatment and sustainability of the programme through to 2035. “It’s a document that helps us with a roadmap of how we do our screening, our vaccination, our treatment of pre-cancerous lesions, and also it will help us with the sustainability of the programme for the next 10 to 15 years,” he said. Dr Damutalau said available data shows around 18 per cent of women have HPV infection, although he believes the figure could be higher because the hospital continues to see two or three new cervical cancer cases each month. He explained that the best way to prevent cervical cancer is through immunisation of young girls aged around 9 to 14 years and regular screening. Dr Damutalau said screening is the only way to detect cervical cancer early, allowing treatment to begin before the disease progresses. He said Vanuatu can currently treat stage 1 cervical cancer locally, while women with more advanced stages must travel overseas for further treatment. “There are a lot of challenges. I think the biggest ones that we encounter are that Vanuatu is very sparse, with different islands, so there is a lot of geography we have to go through, and human resources are also one of the important things that we combat every day,” he said. “Human resources across ministries are not enough, but we always try to reach as far as where women live, from remote places in the north down to the south.” Dr Damutalau acknowledged the efforts made by women who come forward to clinics for screening. He said there are currently two clinics providing services, one in Port Vila and one in Luganville. Cervical cancer is caused by HPV, and once a woman becomes infected, the virus can change cells on the cervix, causing them to become cancerous. Dr Damutalau said most HPV infections clear naturally, but some remain and can increase the risk of cervical cancer. He said about 90 per cent of cervical cancers are linked to HPV, which is why vaccination and early screening are important. SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

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More boys than girls drop out of school August 12, 2026
More boys than girls are dropping out of secondary schools in Vanuatu, with TORBA Province recording the highest dropout rate. Boys are repeating grades more than girls at both primary and secondary levels across all provinces, and TORBA Province again has the highest repetition rate. These findings were conveyed by the Director of Policy and Planning at the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET), John Gideon, in his presentation to set the tone for discussions at the National Education Forum in Port Vila. He said more boys are leaving school for reasons beyond the classroom, such as the cost of education, distance to school and boarding challenges. In 2016, Vanuatu came up with a policy requiring children to start formal primary school at age 6. Director Gideon revealed that the net enrolment rate has been declining since 2023, with girls recording a higher rate while boys’ participation remains lower. Girls also recorded higher gross enrolment rates than boys at every level. Director Gideon also mentioned that the education system is not retaining students, especially at the secondary level. He said about 41 out of every 100 children who start Year 1 remain in school by Year 6, and only about 5 out of every 100 continue through to Year 13. Director Gideon highlighted that the number of early childhood centres has decreased since 2022, primary schools have remained stable, while secondary schools have grown the most, with 67 new schools established since 2015. “There are over 5,400 teachers, but they are not where the students are,” he said. SHEFA, TAFEA and SANMA have the most senior secondary schools, while TORBA faces a severe shortage of junior secondary teachers. Director Gideon encouraged participants at the forum to examine what the data reveals about boys’ engagement in the education system, how to increase enrolment in early childhood and the relationship between enrolment and student progress. Currently, 104,510 students are enrolled across more than 1,000 registered schools in Vanuatu. However, Director General Cherol Ala pointed out that not all children are in school, highlighting the need to improve access, enrolment and participation. While literacy and numeracy outcomes continue to decline, she said monitoring of the nationwide Curriculum Improvement Program (CIP), launched last year, is showing improved outcomes in student learning. Other challenges she mentioned include student and teacher attendance, high dropout rates, limited access to formal training and qualifications, school infrastructure, access to schools and rolling out internet connectivity. She reminded everyone about the ministry’s mission to provide young people with lifelong skills, values and confidence to become self-reliant and contribute to development. Throughout the four-day National Education Forum, government leaders, educators and partners have discussed what has not worked and what needs to be done to improve education outcomes. The forum ends today. SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

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Vanuatu’s education crisis a ‘national disaster’ – Pikinini Playtime CEO August 12, 2026
Pikinini Playtime founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tony Batten has described Vanuatu’s education situation as a “national disaster”, warning that poor literacy outcomes among children could affect the country’s future development. Speaking during an interview on Kava Mo Kajap, Mr. Batten said reports that around 70 per cent of children are unable to read and write at the expected level should be treated as a serious national concern. “I think it is a national disaster, like a hurricane or an earthquake,” Mr. Batten said. He said Vanuatu’s greatest resource is not its land or natural resources, but its people, and education is the foundation needed to develop that human resource. “Human resources are the number one resource for Vanuatu,” he said. Mr. Batten said countries that have successfully moved from being less developed to more advanced economies have done so by investing heavily in education and building a skilled population. However, he said Vanuatu’s current education results remain a major concern despite the country spending a significant amount of its national budget on education. “Vanuatu gives a lot of money per capita into education, but the results are still among the lowest in the Pacific,” he said. The Pikinini Playtime founder said the challenge is not only about funding but about how the education system delivers results. He questioned why many students continue to leave school without basic reading and writing skills despite years spent in classrooms. Mr. Batten said the impact of poor education outcomes can also be seen in the country’s workforce, where businesses often recruit skilled workers from overseas to fill positions. “We bring people from the Philippines and other countries to do accounting, bookkeeping, management, building and supervisory work, but many ni-Vanuatu are not able to take those opportunities because they do not have the basic education,” he said. He said the literacy issue must be addressed early because children who fail to develop strong reading skills in their early years often struggle throughout their education journey. Mr. Batten also raised concerns about the value placed on education within the system. He said teacher absenteeism, weak accountability and a lack of support for educators contribute to children losing confidence in learning. “When children see that school is not important, they begin to believe they don’t need school,” he said. Mr. Batten acknowledged that many teachers are working under difficult conditions but said the system needs stronger support, training and leadership to improve outcomes. He believes improving education requires everyone involved — government, schools, teachers, principals and parents — to work together. “Children are smart. They have the ability. But they need the right support and the right opportunities,” he said. Mr. Batten said addressing literacy must become a national priority because the future of Vanuatu depends on the quality of education provided to today’s children. SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

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