February Newsletter 2025

Mar 12, 2025 | Newsletters | 0

The year usually starts at a steady pace as we plan and prepare for upcoming projects—but February has been one of the busiest months yet for the #SistaTeam!

We kicked off with the We Rise Coalition Annual Retreat in Nadi, Fiji, where Sista’s Program Manager and Communications Coordinator represented the Sista team. It was an incredible learning opportunity as Coalition partners reaffirmed their purpose in the #PacificFeminist space and worked through key documents like the Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Framework and the Communications & Advocacy Plan.

Back home, the Projects team teamed up with the Gender Equality Together (GET) team from CARE to launch the Young Women’s Leadership Program (YWLP), starting with interviews and the selection process. We’re excited to roll out both the YWLP and the Young Men’s Initiative with the GET team this year!

We also took time to honor Father Walter Lini Day by re-sharing our “Rispek Hemi Honorobol” campaign, highlighting the importance of respect and dignity in leadership.

From celebrating the elegant Shirley Abraham in our #SistaGatStyle feature to collaborating with key partners like the Vanuatu Electoral Office and marking milestones like the Vanuatu Child Protection Video with VANGO—there’s so much more to share. Read on to catch up on everything we’ve been up to this month!

Projects

Shirley Abraham – Sista Gat Style, Vanuatu Daily Post

To kickstart 2025, we are celebrating the elegant Shirley Abraham!

As the CEO of VANGO, a leader in Vanuatu’s civil society sector, and a proud mother of four, Shirley is a powerhouse dedicated to serving communities and uplifting humanity.

Hailing from Uripiv, Malekula, her leadership journey—from revitalizing VANGO to supporting her husband’s business—reflects her strength and determination.

When she’s not navigating the NGO world, Shirley keeps things simple and grounded—whether it’s spending time with family, running, or embracing her love for fashion with local brands.

She lives by this quote, “Always have self-confidence, be innovative and creative. Start a new business, take that job promotion or pursue your education—it’s never too late!”

#SistaGatStyle #WomanMalekula #Inspiring #Kind #Beautiful #Confident #Mother #Determined

Sista Email Database

This month, Sista’s Project Officer restarted the process of distributing important information through our email database. This database ensures that Sista’s subscribers receive timely and relevant content. By actively sending information through our email network, we hope to keep our community informed and connected with the various initiatives we are undertaking and the potential opportunities to engage in.

Do you want to stay informed about opportunities and news related to gender equality and women’s rights in Vanuatu? – Email Sista’s Project Officer: talula@sista.com.vu, and we’ll include you in future updates!

Gender Equality Together Team: Upcoming Activities – CARE

On the first week of this month, Sista’s Project Coordinator and Program Manager met with CARE representatives to review key activities for the Gender Equality Together (GET) initiative. They discussed key programs like the Young Women’s Leadership Program (YWLP), Young Men Initiative (YMI), International Women’s Day (IWD), and the 16 Days of Activism (16DOA).

The GET team presented a timeline for these activities. The Sista team decided that to ensure better coordination, they had to move the YWLP shortlisting process to an earlier date. Another change was shifting the IWD planning meeting to accommodate a team member arriving from Fiji.

The YWLP internship schedule was also adjusted to avoid overlapping with other activities, and concerns were raised about how recent natural events, like the earthquake, affected businesses involved in the internship. The Sista team plans to reassess the internship in June.

Additionally, six intergenerational dialogue events will be held this year, covering various YWLP, YMI, and 16DOA activities. We are excited for our partnership this year with CARE and the upcoming programs.

Young Women Leadership Program – CARE

On February 11, 2025, Sista’s Project Coordinator and Project Officer met with GET’s Project Coordinator to shortlist candidates for the Young Women’s Leadership Program (YWLP) this year. The meeting focused on reviewing applications and selecting candidates for interviews.

After careful evaluation, they shortlisted 25 young women for interviews and discussed the suitability of each.

GET’s Project Coordinator took the lead and contacted the shortlisted candidates and scheduled their interviews.

The interviews were held on February 14th and 18th

Each interview focused on the candidates’ passion for leadership, their backgrounds, motivations for applying, the importance of supporting women in leadership, and their personal leadership experiences and challenges.

We can’t wait for this new cohort of young, women leaders!

We Rise Coalition Annual Retreat
Sista’s Program Manager and Communications Coordinator had the wonderful opportunity to attend the first We Rise Coalition Retreat of the year!

The one-week retreat saw the Coalition partners strengthen their relationships with each other, reflect on our collective feminist movement in the Pacific, and strategize for We Rise Phase 4.

We were able to discuss the Monitoring and Evaluation Learning Framework and figure out how each partner could adapt and use the framework in each of their individual contexts. Sista’s Program Manager and Communications Coordinator are excited to take this framework back and discuss this further with the Project Coordinator to see how we can apply it in our upcoming projects.

The Coalition also had the opportunity to go through the Communications and Advocacy Plan with our new Communication Officer, Sabrina! Thorough discussions were had around key tasks like the official set up of the website, and advocacy on regional and international events. We’re very excited to see Sabrina step up in her role and showcase the amazing work the Coalition is doing in the region.

By the end of the retreat we were able to agree and affirm our shared purpose: “Feminist organizations across the Pacific who are working together towards transformative change and collective movement building.”

Thank you to our #PacificFeminists, we look forward to working alongside you all this year to help create the change we want to see in the Pacific!

Final Validation Workshop for the Labour Mobility Reintegration Strategy

Later in the month, Sista’s Project Coordinator attended the Final Validation Workshop for the Labour Mobility Reintegration Strategy on behalf of Sista.

This workshop was a crucial step towards refining and finalizing the Labour Mobility Reintegration Strategy, which aims to address the reintegration of labor migrants and their families, ensuring sustainable benefits for both individuals and their communities.

The workshop was held in light of ongoing consultations and discussions between various stakeholders, including government representatives, consultants, and organizations involved in labor mobility.

Safeguarding and Anti-Corruption Training – World Vision Vanuatu
On Monday, 17th February, the Sista Project Coordinator attended a Safeguarding Refresher training session at World Vision Vanuatu (WVV). The training was designed for new staffs and volunteers at World Vision Vanuatu as well as other organization that are doing work with World Vision Vanuatu on key safeguarding practices.

Later that day, Sista’s Communications Coordinator and Project Officer attended a Fraud and Anti-Corruption training with WVV’s Finance Manager and Officer. The training was a good opportunity to review the different fraudulent practices that can happen within an organization and the precautionary measures that individuals in an organization should take if they suspect fraud.

These sessions were a valuable reminder of the importance of safeguarding and practicing transparent and accountable practices within an organization. THANK YOU, World Vision!

Sexual Harassment in the Pacific Training – Fiji Women’s Rights Movement

Sista was invited by the Fiji Women’s Rights Movement (FWRM) to attend full-day research convening session on February 24th, followed by the Regional Training of Trainers Workshop on Combating Workplace Sexual Harassment in the Pacific, which took place from February 25th to March 1st, 2025. Sista’s Project Officer had the pleasure of attending this training – this was also her first time travelling outside the country for training!

The research convening was part of the Leadership Perception Study, a regional research project spanning five countries: Fiji, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. Its aim was to gather insights into leadership perceptions across these nations. During the convening, participants formulated potential research questions on key thematic areas, identified challenges, risks, strengths, and opportunities, and determined focal points for the research in each of the five countries.

As for the workshop on Combating Workplace Sexual Harassment, participants delivered five-minute presentations based on the context of their respective countries. Sista’s Project Officer alongside the Director of DWA, Rothina Ilo Noka, and Jeanette Harrison from the Vanuatu Human Rights Coalition, presented a short slide on Vanuatu’s legal framework, sector-specific research, and key findings on the prevalence of sexual harassment.

Thank you FWRM for making this opportunity possible!

Communications Coverage at We Rise Coalition Annual Retreat
On February 10th to 14th 2025, the WRC communications officer had attended for the first time ever, the coalitions annual retreat which was held in Fiji at Fiji Hideaway Resort and Spa.

The weeklong retreat focused on bringing together representatives from every partner organisation in the Pacific to discuss issues and talk about the way forward as a coalition in its phase 4.

The partner organizations include; femLINKpacific, Fiji Women’s Rights Movement (FWRM), Voice for Change (VFC), Brown Girl Woke (BGW), Sista, and International Women’s Development Agency (IWDA).

The WRC Communications Officer finally got to meet everyone in person, which was a great opportunity since she had only connected with them over email and Zoom since taking on the role last year. She also made the most of it by capturing as many photos and interviews as possible for WRC’s socials.

In addition to meeting everyone at the retreat, she raised concerns with Voice for Change and Brown Girl Woke about not having a designated communications focal point. While BGW didn’t provide a clear solution, she was glad to address the issue directly with their Executive Director. Meanwhile, VFC shared their comms officer’s contact, who has now been added to the working group’s WhatsApp chat and email chain.

VANGO launches of the ‘Vanuatu Child Protection Video’

On February 19th, the Sista Program Manager attended the official launch of the Vanuatu Child Protection Video, an initiative aimed at raising awareness about the Child Protection Draft Bill.

This bill highlights key child protection issues and rights in Vanuatu, with the goal of encouraging greater community engagement and support in protecting the most vulnerable members of society.

The Human Rights Coordinator, Albert Nalpini, emphasized the importance of the bill in the current context. He stressed that parents must take responsibility for teaching their children in ways that do not cause harm. He also stated that the bill will help protect Vanuatu’s children from sexual, physical, mental, and emotional abuse, ultimately strengthening the foundation and future of the country.

The Minister of Justice, Community Services, and Youth (MoJCSY), Job Andy, echoed these sentiments, adding that the bill will only be effective if parents take an active role in implementing it at home.

During the event, VANGO announced Member of Parliament Marie Louis Milne, Vanuatu Tourism Office CEO Adela Aru, and Community Ambassador Mike Esrom Kaun as Children’s Ambassadors. These ambassadors will act as champions of the bill, using their platforms to raise awareness and advocate for its implementation.

Sista celebrates the drafting of this bill as a milestone achievement for VANGO and MoJCSY in their efforts to secure a better quality of life and a stronger family system for the children of Vanuatu.

Presentation on Social and gender dynamics in Vanuatu, critical feminist principles and principles of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and justice in research

On February 20th, the Sista Program Manager delivered a presentation to 20 researchers who will be conducting a study on “Ensuring Sustainable Access to Freshwater in the Pacific” in Vanuatu.

The presentation covered social and gender dynamics in Vanuatu, critical feminist principles, and the principles of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) and justice in research.

The session aimed to help researchers understand how positionality influences research and how structural barriers can exclude certain groups from fully participating. It also emphasized the

importance of avoiding unequal dynamics and ensuring that research is inclusive and contextually relevant, particularly regarding women’s roles in water access.

Conducted over Zoom, the presentation introduced Sista’s work, gender and social inequalities in Vanuatu, and inclusive research practices. It also provided Bislama phrases and recommended readings to help researchers deepen their understanding of the local context.

Sista is proud to support this initiative, ensuring that gender and social considerations are meaningfully integrated into research. We look forward to seeing the study’s outcomes and how they will contribute to sustainable and inclusive freshwater solutions in Vanuatu.

Voter Awareness Committee Post-Election Meeting
The ED, as a board member of VANGO, attended the Voter Awareness Committee Post-Election Discussion to discuss what went well during snap election and what can be strengthened.

In attendance included Department of Women’s Affairs, Vanuatu National Youth Council, Transparency International, VBTC, Vanuatu Christian Council and Balance of Power. Moving forward, it was decided that it’s imperative for civil society to work more cohesivly together to promote civic education and awareness. She congratulated the VEO team for their hard work and efforts towards the snap election, especially given the short time frame and earthquake recovery.

International Women’s Day Preparation with YWLP Alumni

As the month was quickly coming to an end, Sista’s Program Manager took lead in finalizing the teams plan for International Women’s Day.

For this year’s annual event, we’ve decided to reflect on late Grace Mera Molisa’s poem, “Co-operation” and shine light on how working together can accelerate action for gender equality.

We’re excited to be working with the YWLP Alumni to celebrate this annual event as a few of them will be providing their reflection on the poem. We also have something special planned to publish on the day itself – think, strong-women-leaders. Keep an eye on our page for all of this content!

And a huge shout out to the GET team at CARE for supporting us with this year’s activity.

Other News

Sista Team Office Relocation Update 

Following the 7.3 magnitude earthquake on December 17th, 2024, the Sista Team will be relocating to a new office next month. On Thursday, February 20th, 2025, the sista team, with the support of everyone, successfully packed several items in preparation for the move. The Sista Logistics and Finance officer is ensuring every detail is covered, from transportation to setting up the new space, for a smooth transition. Stay tuned for more updates! 

Sista Team Travel Support
This month the finance team and logistics officer took care of the travel arrangements for our team members going to Fiji for meetings, workshop, conference and retreats. These events are important because they help our organization grow and make a bigger impact on our work. Our Sista Finance team and logistics officer are making sure everything runs seamlessly. Additionally, we are assisting our Sista ED with organizing her trip to New York to attend the Commission on the status of Women.

Fraud and Corruption Online Training – IWDA

On 26th February 2025, Ana-Maria Burca from International Women’s Development Agency (IWDA) led a valuable 1-hour training workshop for the Sista team and other partners around the Pacific, focusing on the important topic of Fraud and Corruption.

The session emphasized the right attitude toward fraud — how we all need to stay alert, act ethically, and take responsibility in preventing any dishonest actions. Ana-Maria also discussed the critical role of reporting fraud, explaining in simple terms how important it is to speak up if we notice something suspicious. By doing so, we protect not only our organization but also our values. 

Sista’s Executive Director, Communications Coordinator, and Logistics Officer joined this online training.

We appreciate Ana-Maria for leading such an impactful session, and together, we’re committed to keeping our organization strong and trustworthy. 

Strengthening the in’s and out’s of Sista

With the ongoing shift to remote work since January 17th we had to develop a new working-from-home policy. This was done with the help of our Australian volunteer, and it’s designed to make remote work smoother and more effective for everyone.

Despite working from home, we’ve kept our weekly check-ins going every Friday. These sessions have been a great way to check in on how everyone is doing, discuss challenges, and find ways to support each other in making remote work easier.

We also created a new tracker to keep tabs on all the policy training we have attended since 2022. This ensures everyone stays up to date on key polices like PSEAH, Child Protection Policy, Safeguarding Policy and Fraud and Anti-Corruption Policy.

A shout out to everyone on the Sista team for their hard work and flexibility this month. We are proud of how the team has adapted and continues to move forward, even in these challenging times.

Coming soon

WASH GEDSI Project with University of Technology, Sydney

This month, Sista’s Communications Coordinator and Project Coordinator worked together to develop a communications strategy and workplan for a new exciting project that incorporates ART and WASH!

Keep an eye on our pages as we will be sharing details soon!

Follow Sista

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

read more...
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

read more...
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

read more...
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

read more...
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

read more...