Bislama Language Week recognized in New Zealand

Mar 12, 2025 | News | 0

Bislama Language Week has been officially recognized in New Zealand, marking a historic milestone in recognizing and preserving the national language of Vanuatu.

This came following calls from the Melanesian community for greater recognition of their linguistic and cultural heritage.

This year’s Bislama Language Week will be observed from July 27 to August 2, the New Zealand Bislama National Working Group has announced.

The success of Bislama Language Week has been made possible through the contributions of government bodies, community organizations, cultural ambassadors, and individuals who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes. Their efforts have helped pilot the language weeks for two years, leading up to its official recognition in 2025.

Bislama Language Week celebrates the language’s cultural heritage and connecting Bislama speakers in New Zealand and beyond.

It serves as an opportunity for reflection, learning, and celebration. It brings together the Ni-Vanuatu diaspora and the wider community to explore the linguistic roots of Bislama, its influence on contemporary culture, and its role in Vanuatu and the Pacific region. The initiative also highlights Vanuatu’s linguistic diversity, reinforcing its cultural significance on a global stage.

According to the Pacific Media Network, the Minister for Pacific Peoples, Dr. Shane Reti, declared the dates for this year’s Pacific Language Weeks, reaffirming the government’s commitment to promoting linguistic and cultural diversity.

“Last year, the Pacific Language Week series saw an incredible response, with thousands of New Zealanders participating in events and activities,” Dr. Reti stated. “From cultural performances and storytelling sessions to social media campaigns viewed over three million times, these celebrations underscored the powerful role language plays in connecting and inspiring communities.”

Dr. Reti also emphasized the importance of the Language Week series in strengthening relationships between Pacific communities and Pacific Island nations. In 2024, the series expanded to include Papua New Guinea Pidgin and Solomon Islands Pidgin Language Weeks. He hinted at the inclusion of Bislama last year, stating that discussions were underway to further expand the initiative in collaboration with the Ministry for Pacific Peoples.

Bislama, a Melanesian Creole language with influences from French and English, is a key component of Vanuatu’s cultural identity. Speaking on its significance, Joseph Toara, the Vanuatu community’s national coordinator, reiterated its historical importance during an interview with Pacific Days’ former host, Ma’a Brian Sagala.

“Without Bislama, we wouldn’t have our independence,” Toara emphasized, underscoring the language’s deep ties to Vanuatu’s national identity and history.”

The organizers have acknowledged partners and individuals who have provided essential resources, encouragement, and expertise to ensure that the initiative is successful.

These include: the National Melanesian Steering Committee, New Zealand; Ministry for Pacific Peoples, New Zealand; New Zealand Human Rights Commission; Regional Ni-Vanuatu Associations in New Zealand; Melanesian, Polynesian, and Micronesian communities in New Zealand; Pacific Community Trusts in New Zealand; Horticulture New Zealand and all Recognised Seasonal Employers; Vanuatu High Commission and Consulate in New Zealand; New Zealand High Commission in Vanuatu; University of Otago, New Zealand; Melanesian Women Today, USA; Australian National University, Australia; Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa Global Missions, New Zealand; Te Papa New Zealand National Museum of Wellington; Christchurch City Council and Library, Motueka Library, New Zealand; Bay of Plenty Schools, New Zealand; Regional Museums, New Zealand; and the Vanuatu Government’s Language Services Department under the Ministry of the Prime Minister.

SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

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‘The scars children carry can last a lifetime’ August 13, 2026
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Man remanded over alleged sexual assault of four-year-old girl August 13, 2026
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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. 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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. 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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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