Episode 20 – Sisterhood

Jul 3, 2024 | PACMAS, The Round Table, PROJECTS, We Rise Coalition | 0

Introduction

Elsie: Halo olgeta, I’m Elsie, welcome to the RoundTable Podcast. We’ve created this space for Ni-Vanuatu women to speak freely on issues affecting us today. Let’s navigate life in the islands together. Join me as I speak to a new guest every episode and ask the questions you’ve always wanted to ask. Ale yumi storian. This project is made possible with the support of the WeRise Coalition and PECMAS. 

TRANSLATIONS: Hello everyone, I’m Elsie, welcome to the RoundTable Podcast. We’ve created this space for Ni-Vanuatu women to speak freely on issues affecting us today. Let’s navigate life in the islands together. Join me as I speak to a new guest every episode and ask the questions you’ve always wanted to ask. Let’s discuss. This project is made possible with the support of the WeRise Coalition and PECMAS. 

Elsie: I would like to think that i am a supportive friend, that I’m a girl’s girl. I’m always ready to show up for my friends, support them, encourage them, and i truly believe in them and their capacities. But I’m at a time in my life where i understand more about friendships. I know there is such a thing as being a bad friend where you intentionally guide your friends in the wrong direction towards things that are bad for them just because you’re afraid of being honest or giving them constructive criticism. Now, I am not the only one who recognizes this. A great woman before me has written about how women can relate to each other and relate to society in Vanuatu. Grace Mera Molissa, who was definitely ahead of her time back then, dropped this gem of knowledge in her opening for her book, Colonized People. It goes, Ni-Vanuatu women cannot be free until they are honest with themselves. Ni-Vanuatu women cannot be free until they learn to internalize and realize the difference between destructive criticism and constructive criticism and actively apply in practice only constructive criticism of each other and support one another in the exercise of their professional functions and responsibilities.

On this episode, we talk about friendships, what is constructive criticism and what is not. Joining us on this episode is a young woman leader who was part of the Young Women’s Leadership Program. The Young Women’s Leadership Program is led by CARE International and they have partnered with Sista to help young women build their leadership capacities. Talula-Fay Taribakeo is a young woman from the island of Ambae and Malekula. She’s part-time student at USP and a dedicated volunteer, having worked with the NetGo program, CARE, and the Vanuatu Cooperative Business Network. Currently Talula is a project officer with Sista, where she combines her passion for online work with hands-on projects. She is also an Alumni of the Young Women’s Leadership Program and during these workshops, much of Grace Molissa’s writing and sisterhood and female relationships was talked about.

Elsie: Hi Talula. Thank you for joining me at the roundtable.

Talula: Hi Elsie.

Elsie: What does that excerpt from Grace’s work in colonized people mean to you?

Talula: Okay, thank you Elsie. Long mi, eksap long wok blong Grace Mera Molisa i tokbaot impoten blong self-awareness mo sapot bitwin ol woman blong Vanuatu, mo long ol narafala pipol insaed long kolonial sosayeti. Molisa i talem se impoten blong yu mas onaest wetem yu wan fastaem bifo yu save kasem tru fridom. Hemia i min se bifo eni ekstanal libereisen i save kamtru, yu mas mekem wan self-awareness we yu talem tru long yu wan, lukluk insaed long yu wan, mo akseptem hu yu tru long yu experience mo identity blo yu. Distinction between destraktiv mo konstraktiv critisicm blo mekem makem difrens bitwin destraktiv kritik mo konstraktiv kritik i impoten long process blo growth tu olsem process ia. Lo destraktiv kritik i mekem man i foldaon olsem blo definem, i mekem man i faldaon, i mekem man i no strong, mo i stap karem gohed ol saekel blong oppression mo self-doubt we oltaem oli stap kam long yumi. Taem Molisa i tokbaot konstraktiv kritik between yumi everiwan emi stap showem pawa blo community mo collective progress. Lo colonial context weh division mo competition i sace kam ol tool long ol man weh stap lo kontrol, mekem wan kalja blo konstractiv toktok mo wok tugeta i kam act lo resistance mo empowerment. Emi abaot mekem ol ples weh ol woman lo yumi Ni-Vanuatu mo ol narafala grup weh oli stap blong wan hard taem oli save toktok mo jenisim or wan narawan or lukaotem wan way weh stap blo leftemap mo no mekem trabol mo mekem rod i open tru lo empowerment mo self-determination.

Long esens, blo mesej blong Molisa i wan kol blong akshen blong ol woman blong Ni-Vanuatu blong leftemap wan narawan tru long onest self-assessment mo sapot bitwin yumievriwan. Hem i wan reminder blo se libereisen i no nomo wan politikol o sosal gol be wan persol mo komuniti jeni we i nidim karej, empathy, mo strong sapot blong yumi wan wan mo narawan tu.

Elsie: Thank you Talula. I love how you dissected the whole piece. I loved that you brought in the importance of having that self-awareness to then be able to provide, you know, that constructive criticism that everybody touched on that. And what Grace talked about in her time as being a challenge women face and how they relate to each other. Do you think we still have that challenge today?

Talula: Thank you Elsie. Yes, I believe the challenge Grace Mera Molisa discussed regarding how women relate to each other still persists today. The dynamics of criticism and support among women continue to be significant issues. The distinction between destructive and constructive criticism remains as relevant as ever. In many communities, including those influenced by colonial legacies, women often face pressure to conform to certain standards and expectations, leading to judgment and competition rather than collaboration and mutual upliftment. The societal and cultural pressures that promote destructive criticism can undermine women’s solidarity and hinder their collective progress. Despite the advancements in gender equality and empowerment, women still navigate environments where negative criticism can be more prevalent than positive reinforcement. This can create barriers to personal and professional growth, making it crucial for women to actively practice constructive criticism and support each other. Building a culture of constructive feedback and mutual support is an ongoing effort. It requires continuous awareness, education, and day by day by fostering environments where women can honestly constructively engage with one another, and we can help overcome these challenges and promote greater solidarity and empowerment.

Elsie: I have to agree with your answer. I also think it’s still quite a challenge. And i think since being part of Sista and being present in these kinds of spaces, and am sure Talula you’ve seen that as well, it’s still really hard to be able to have these like kinds of conversations, to have the hard conversations to hold each other accountable, to provide constructive criticism without taking it to heart. I think that’s something that a lof of women are, I wouldn’t say struggling but are trying to overcome because yes as you mentioned it is still, it’s still a challenge. And i hope that one day we overcome this challenge and think in a lot of Grace’s writings are still very relevant to the issues in Vanuatu. In her work called Cooperation, she writes in her poem which goes, “Dare we allow Goodwill to prevail? Dare we welcome the spirit of co-operation? Dare we give and take, reciprocate, co-operate? Sister, you know where I am. If I am not reaching you, you reach me. It matters not to me who does it better!” I really like this little poem and i feel it does relate to a lot of the things that are happening for us young women and girls in particular today. Talula what does this mean to you? Do you think it’s relevant? It is still relevant? Like does this poem still carry relevance in the society we live in today?

Talula: Thank you Elsie. To me, Grace Mera Molisa’s poem speaks profoundly about the power and importance of goodwill and cooperation among women. The lines, “Dare we allow Goodwill to prevail? Dare we welcome the spirit of co-operation? Dare we give and take, reciprocate, co-operate?” challenge us to embrace a spirit of mutual support and collaboration. Molisa is urging women to move beyond competition and judgment, and instead, foster an environment where they support and uplift each other.The poem highlights the value of reciprocity and mutual aid.

Elsie: Now, I really like this particular poem from Grace. I think that it’s still relates to a lot of things that we’re going through as young women and girls today. Talula, what does this poem mean to? Do you think it’s still relevant to the work and to the experiences that we go through?

Talula: Thank you Elsie. To me, it challenged us to embrace a spirit of mutual support and collaboration. Molisa is urging women to move forward, beyond competition and judgement instead foster and environment where support and uplift each other. By saying sister, you know where i am. If I am not reaching you, you read me. If it matters not to me, who does it better? Molisa emphasizes that the essence of cooperation is not about comparing or competing but about being there for each other and following the connection and support we provide. It’s a call to prioritize and collective over individual achievements, understanding that success is sweeter and more meaningful when it’s shared. This message is still incredibly relevant today. In our modern world where competition can often be emphasized over collaboration and where social media can create pressure to compare ourselves to others. Molisa’s words remind us of the importance of solidarity and mutual support. Cooperation and goodwill are timeless values that can help us build stronger communities and more supportive networks. By embracing these principles we can create environments where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Molisa’s work also encourages us to look beyond individual success, yeah. Molisa’s work encourages us to look beyond individual success and to see the value in helping each other, creating a ripple effect that benefits the entire community. Her call for cooperation is a reminder that together we are stronger and that by supporting one another, we can achieve more significant and meaningful progress. Also, Grace’s poem is a reflection on support among women.

Elsie: Thank you unpacking that for us Talula. I think i really liked what you said. You said, “success is sweeter when shared.” And I think in a lot of Grace’s poem, she does talk about cooperation and you unpacked it really well with how you spoke about it not being a competition and how we have to work together in order to achieve whatever it is that we want to achieve. So, thank you so much for unpacking that. In your opinion, how can women better support each other as sisters towards the same cause and cooperate more?

Talula: Thank you Elsie. So lo emia bai mi toktok small lo bislama. So lo mi blo helpem yumi blo blo bildim wan stronger sapot network i gat sam tingting weh i sta relate lo kaen ia lo solidarity, empowerment mo collaboration. Feswan emi olsem, hemi important tumas blo mekem ples weh ol woman i save kamout mo tokbaot ol experiences blo olgeta, ol jalenjes, mo ol success blo olgeta. So bai yumi no talem blo olgeta beh blo yumi. So emi includim mekem wan woman olsem example yu save mekem ol mama weh oli sta mekem ol grup blo olgeta insaed long community, ol onlaen ples tu weh individual i save kamaot mo sapotem wan narawan blo helpem wan wan lo saed blo communication mo understanding ah lo saed blo bildimap trust mo solidarity weh i save mekem wan foundation blo effective cooperation. Lo narafala saed tu sekon wan se hemi important tumas blo promotem lo saed blo mentorship mo role modeling. I save gat impact lo laef blo wan man. Blo promotem ol experience blo ol woman mo mentorem olgeta yangfaala woman blo save transferem knowledge mo skills kaen olsem lo sapot lo sisterhood mo olsem sapot blo bildimap ol yangfala weh oli sta kam antap. Mo tu mi tingse emi important tu blo advocatem olsem lo saed ia lo ko lo ol skuls weh, ol skuls tu oli should lanem lo saed ia blo promotem gender equality mo women empowerment weh i kam kaen olsem ia i impoten tumas mo includim equal access lo education, ol health care, lo saed blo economic opportunities, mo leadership posititon weh ol woman tu olsem, yumi ol woman yumi ol resource weh yumi needim ol sapot ia lo blo mekem wan success blo mekem yumi kam success mo yumi need blo sapotem yumi wan wan blo blo yumi wok tugeta from wan common goal ia. Mo tu narafala samting emi lo saed blo recognition olsem, olsem wan smol samting nomo or wanem yu mas traem happy lo wan narafala man. Celebratem ol diverse contribution blo ol woman lo Vanuatu hemi important tumas. Ol woman i stap playem ol vital role long ol different aspect lo society, lo saed blo agriculture, mo entrepreneurship weh i stap kam antap ko lo ol education mo ol community development. So mi tingse emi gud tumas blo yumi value mo recognisem olgeta contribution ia blo i save mekem wan way forward blo community blo yumi mo country blo yumitu. Finally, hemi olsem emi impoten tu blo jalenjem ol harmful stereotype mo social norms weh i stap go on lo society blo yumi between ol division mo competition between ol woman. Yumi need blo encouragem yumi wanwan, respectem ol narafala man or woman, blo save helpem blo brekem daon ol barriers ia. Mo yumi gat unity mo collective purpose. So lo essence blo mekem ples blo sapot mo promotem mentorship ia, advocatem gender equality, celebratem diversity mo jalenjem ol harmful norms, ol woman lo Vanuatu save helpem wan narawan mo collaboration more effective blo mekem tingting emi kam better blo country blo yumi.

So mi gat wan smol poem blo talemaot, so mi laekem tumas about poem blo Grace Mera Molisa emi wan message weh emi very important lo saed blo collaboration yes between ol woman. Blo yumi kam tugeta tu yumi no needim ol woman nomo mo yumi needim ol man tu blo mekem wan gudfala country blo yumi ia. So, i gat wan poem weh mi raetem lo ples ia emi about striving together. So heading blo poem ia hemi striving together. So, here it goes;

“STRIVING TOGETHER”

Grace, we hear your call, loud and clear,

To embrace cooperation, to shed fear.

In the vast challenges our nation faces,

We find strength in diverse spaces.

Dare we allow goodwill to guide our way,

In this struggle, night and day?

For the path ahead is not easy to tread,

But together, we’ll rise, not just in our head.

Sisters unite, in solidarity we stand,

Hand in hand, across the land.

Yet, the challenge looms large, we confess,

Without our brothers, it’s harder to address.

For the betterment of our dear nation,

We need all hands, every generation.

Men and women, side by side,

In this journey, together we stride.

So, Grace, we pledge to strive as one,

Until the battle is fought, until it’s won.

For Vanuatu’s future, bright and free,

Requires unity, you and me.

This poem acknowledges Grace Mera Molisa’s call for cooperation while emphasizing the need for both women and men to work together for the advancement of Vanuatu. It celebrates solidarity and emphasizes the importance of collective effort in overcoming challenges and building a brighter future.

Elsie: Thank you so much Talula, i loved how you unpacked that. You gave your honest opinion and i love that you wrote a little poem. Maybe we should ask all our guest to write poems. It’s alrigh am just kidding haha. So Talula as you already know, we’ve been doing this new thing on the roundtable where we ask our guests at the end of each episode in three words, how would you describe your journey as a woman navigating life in Vanuatu today?

Talula: Okay. Three words to describe the journey. Creating, Capable and Cooperation. Thank you.

Elsie: Thank you so much Talula and thank you so much for being part of this episode.

Talula: Thank you Elsie for having me.

Elsie: As always we love to leave you with good information to take away from each episode. Like Talula said it’s important to differentiate between destructive and constructive criticism. Constructive criticism is essential for growth and is the only way you and your friends and your colleagues, your family, whoever, it’s the only way they’re going to be able to change and change in a positive way, in a healthy way. Self-awareness. Girl, you need to sit with yourself and find time to understand what your values are, the support system you want to be part of, who you surround yourself with, and what their values are, because these are all key elements that will shape who you are and the choices that you make. And this last takeaway is especially for the ladies, we got to recognize. When you achieve something, recognize it. When your sister friend achieves something, recognize it. By acknowledging it, you’re showing that all you want to do is cooperate. You want to work with each other, support each other, and that this isn’t a competition, that we’re all here working towards the same goal. And in the wise words of Miss Grace herself, “sister, you know where I am if am not reaching you, you reach me. It matters not to me who does it better.”

That brings us to the end of this episode. We hope you enjoyed this episode and we hope that it will bring you and your circle of sister closer. As always, thanks for listening to the roundtable.

Ending: Make sure to check us out on Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok at sistavanuatu and our website sista.com.vu. This is Elsie from the Round Table. If you want to hear more from the Round Table podcast, make sure to tune into the next episode.

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‘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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Episode 20 – Sisterhood

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National writing competition celebrates Vanuatu’s diverse cultures and identities

Episode 20 – Sisterhood

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National writing competition celebrates Vanuatu’s diverse cultures and identities