March Newsletter 2025

Apr 29, 2025 | Newsletters | 0

March was a month of deep reflection, global advocacy, and creative celebration.

Our Executive Director joined Pacific allies at the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) in New York, calling for stronger leadership, political will, and collaboration to realise gender justice in Vanuatu.

Back home, International Women’s Day was marked through two powerful initiatives: a thought-provoking social media campaign featuring a poem by Grace Mera Molisa, and an exhibition at Fondation Suzanne Bastien, where we showcased our work and connected with community. The event also included a fundraiser for the iconic Juliette Pita, whose passing later in the month was a heartbreaking loss. We honor her legacy as a powerful artist and advocate.

We continued supporting the next generation of leaders through a series of Young Women’s Leadership Program (YWLP) events with CARE Vanuatu, including a warm meet & greet, a moving Family Storian session, and planning meetings for activities ahead.

We also officially launch our Wota i Toktok project, an exciting new arts initiative in partnership with UTS and Water for Women Fund. The open call for artists sparked early interest, and we’re excited for what’s to come.

Keep reading to see what else we achieved this month!

Projects

Relvie Poilapa – Sista Gat Style, Vanuatu Daily Post

In March, we’re celebrating the dynamic Relvie Poilapa!

With roots in Efate Island and Papua New Guinea, Relvie is a proud mother of five who balances her life as a private consultant across various sectors of Vanuatu’s development. When she’s not working, you’ll find her exploring the stunning beaches, rivers, and waterfalls across Vanuatu, or offering support and mentorship to those around her.

Relvie describes her style as a mix of semi-casual with a touch of bold flair. She loves to accessorize with unique earrings and draws inspiration from her PNG heritage and Pacifica tropical designs.

Her life motto? Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” and Maya Angelou’s wise words, “The desire to reach the stars is ambitious. The desire to reach hearts is wise. “

Here’s to celebrating women like Relvie—bold, compassionate, and unapologetically themselves!

#SistaGatStyle #WomanEfate #WomanPNG #Dynamic #BeautifulEnergy #Mother #Confident #Inspiring #Advocate

Commission on the Status of Women – Balance of Power, Pacific Feminist Fund and We Rise Coalition

On Thursday 14th March 2025, the We Rise Coalition held a parallel event at the Commission Status of Women (CSW 69) in New York titled, “From the Pacific Platform for Action +31 to Beijing Platform for Action +30 – What more is needed now to achieve gender justice?”

Sista’s Executive Director joined the panel and shared the following:

“Vanuatu has made commitments to progress gender equality through instruments such as the Beijing Platform for Action and CEDAW, which are localized through the National Gender Equality Policy. It is critical to understand that gender equality is essential for nation-building – if we want to have a stable, sustainable and prosperous nation, then we must ensure every person is able to reach their full potential to contribute to building Vanuatu.

Unfortunately, our gender equality efforts are always setback with every natural disaster, including the recent devastating earthquake, as our focus shifts to basic survival. Despite the setbacks, I remain hopeful. We have these instruments to lay out our vision and commitments,we just need to connect the dots, build relationships, and strategize for implementation.

Above all, we need strong leadership and political will to manifest this. In summary, to progress gender equality, we must:

Commit to organizational strengthening of women’s organizations

Create a strong and active women’s movement

Support the national women’s machinery and strengthen relationship between civil society and government across various ministries

Work with men to be agents of change in church, state and nakamal
The recent earthquake was our reality check. We must be serious about building our country together. We cannot continue as we are, and it means ensuring that women are part of the decision making as this country belongs to all of us and we must shape it together.”

Thank you to Balance of Power, Pacific Feminist Fund and We Rise Coalition for supporting Sista’s attendance at CSW69.

International Women’s Day Social Media Campaign

To mark International Women’s Day, we launched a social media campaign centered around “Co-operation,” a powerful poem by the late Grace Mera Molisa. In a world where gender equality remains generations away, we used this moment to spark reflection and conversation about the power of working together to accelerate change.

With the support of CARE Vanuatu’s GET team, several alumni from our Young Women’s Leadership Program shared personal responses to the poem, offering fresh perspectives on solidarity, resilience, and collective action. Their voices brought Mera Molisa’s words to life and helped us connect past struggles to present movements.

Check out the online media campaign here!

Sexual Harassment Workshop Debrief with Department of Women’s Affairs

On March 7th, Sista’s Project Officer met with the Director of the Department of Women’s Affairs (DWA) to chat about key takeaways from the Sexual Harassment Workshop in Nadi, Fiji, which was facilitated by the Fiji Women’s Rights Movement (FWRM). Since the Director couldn’t attend the final session, this brief meeting gave us a chance to fill her in on what she missed and discuss next steps for tackling sexual harassment in Vanuatu.

The conversation centered on how Sista and DWA can collaborate moving forward. We agreed that more coordination would be needed, especially once Sista’s Executive Director returns from the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York. The Director also agreed to call a follow-up meeting involving the Human Rights Coalition to flesh out an implementation plan and strengthen partnerships for real change.

Big thanks to FWRM for the opportunity to learn and build on policies to address sexual harassment in Vanuatu.

CARE in Australia Strategic Plan Refresher

On the same day, March 7th,our Project Coordinator joined an online workshop hosted by CARE Australia’s CEO, Morgan Ryan, and International Programs Director, Bianca Collier with the goal of gathering input from partners to help shape CARE’s 2026–2030 Strategic Plan.

The session touched on everything from strengths and weaknesses to challenges and new opportunities. It was great to hear different perspectives on CARE’s identity as an INGO and how it can evolve in the years ahead.

Thank You CARE Australia for including us in this process. We’re looking forward to continuing this journey together with our friends at CARE in Vanuatu!

International Women’s Day Exhibition with Alliance Française

On March 8th, Sista joined the International Women’s Day Exhibition at the Fondation Suzanne Bastien Gallery, hosted by Alliance Française. It was a beautiful evening to showcase our work, from past projects to our #IWD2025 campaign theme: Accelerate Action Through Cooperation.

Our Program Manager, Communications & Advocacy Coordinator, and Project Officer held down the booth, chatting with guests and soaking up the creative energy. There were moving speeches, stunning artwork, and live music that made the night feel electric.

One heartfelt moment was a fundraiser for Juliette Pitta, one of Vanuatu’s most iconic female artists, who was seriously ill at the time. Sadly, she passed away later that month. We were honored to have collaborated with her on the #SistaStanapStrongAnthology. Her powerful voice and legacy will live on for generations.

Young Women’s Leadership Program, Meet & Greet – CARE in Vanuatu

On March 12th, we joined CARE Vanuatu’s GET team to welcome 18 amazing young women who are part of the 2025 Young Women’s Leadership Program (YWLP). Despite a late start thanks to heavy rain and traffic.

Participants introduced themselves, shared thoughts on gender equality, and heard from CARE and Sista about what lies ahead. They also had a chance to hear from alumni, fill out profiles, and pose for some snaps before enjoying refreshments. It was a strong start, full of enthusiasm and connection, and we can’t wait to go along with this cohort through the YWLP cycle.

YWLP Family Storian Session – CARE in Vanuatu

On March 21st, our Project Officer joined CARE’s Family Storian session as both a rep from Sista and a proud YWLP alum. It was a special moment to reflect on her own journey and encourage this year’s participants.

Each young woman brought along a family member, whether a parent, spouse, or guardian, to learn more about the program and the important role their support plays. It was a powerful reminder that leadership doesn’t happen in isolation but rather, it takes a village. Before heading back to the office, our Project Officer shared some heartfelt words with the group that left everyone feeling motivated and ready for the journey ahead.

Gender Equality Together (GET) and Sista Teams Meeting – CARE in Vanuatu

On March 27th, we hosted a meeting at our office with our partners from the GET team at CARE in Vanuatu, to review upcoming YWLP activities and the Costed Work Plan. We agreed on monthly meetings to stay on track and walked through key plans covering everything from feminism workshops to internships, intergenerational dialogue, and alumni activities.

We also touched on earthquake-related challenges and brainstormed how to keep the internship component going. It was a productive session that helped us lock in the next steps, confirm budgets, and keep everything aligned moving forward.

THANK YOU Leikita, Juliette and Isabelle for meeting with us, we look forward to another year of growth with the team!

Vanuatu Feminist Library Revamp

March was also about getting things in order. Our Project Officer led the reorganization of the Vanuatu Feminist Library, doing a full inventory and re-categorizing books to make borrowing easier and more intuitive.

Keen to borrow a book from the Vanuatu Feminist Library? Visit us at Imman Emalo in the Stade Area and speak with our Project Officer who will be able to assist you.

Operations Manual Review and Support

Our Project Coordinator and Katherine, our #AusVols, teamed up in March to fine-tune the templates inside Sista’s draft operations manual. Their goal was to make sure the resources are practical and fit how we work. It was also a great team-building opportunity, blending project coordination with program management experience.

Once staff have a chance to test them out in real projects, we’ll take in feedback and make final adjustments. It’s all part of building systems that work for the people using them.

Tankiu tumas Katherine for drafting the Operations Manual for Sista. It’s such a huge step for the organization and we can’t wait to test it out and eventually finalize it!

International Women’s Day Awards Hosted by DFAT

On March 10th, the Australian High Commission held the 2025 International Women’s Day Awards, honoring women making waves in leadership, community work, and storytelling. The event was emotional and inspiring, as families of the late Hanson Mataskele, Andy Lynch, and Mildred Sope presented awards named in their honor.

Lieutenant Doriel Alick received the Hanson Mataskelekele Award, Pro Rescue Team was recognized for community work, and Rebecca Tobo Olul-Hossen was celebrated for her creative storytelling. Sista’s Program Manager attended and felt privileged to be in the presence of so many changemakers and to honor the legacy of women who’ve paved the way.

Partnership Health Check with CARE in Vanuatu

On March 20th, our leadership team sat down with CARE Vanuatu’s interim Country Director and team to reflect on our long-standing partnership. It was a chance to revisit the purpose behind our work together, equipping women and girls with the tools to lead, and to talk through what’s next.

We discussed ways to strengthen our collaboration, improve communication, and stay aligned on long-term goals.

A follow-up meeting is already on the calendar to firm up work plans and timelines. We’re incredibly grateful for CARE’s support and excited to continue walking this path together.

Wota i Toktok – Water for Women Fund and University of Technology, Sydney

We also celebrated the public launch of Wota i Toktok, a new creative initiative in partnership with the University of Technology Sydney and the Water for Women Fund. This project invites local artists to explore the deep connections between water, culture, and identity through original works of art.

The Communications & Advocacy Coordinator supported the check-in process with project partners and led the social media rollout of the open call for artists.

The response has been exciting, and we’re looking forward to curating a rich exhibition at Fondation Suzanne Bastien later this year, followed by a digital gallery that will ensure broader access to this important storytelling.

Communications Working Group Monthly Meeting – We Rise Coalition

On March 31st, the WRC Communications Working Group met over Teams for our regular check-in. We talked through updates on the website (which is still under development), progress on the latest WRC newsletter, and the next steps for the Herstories and Biographies of each partner organization under the coalition.

Although not everyone could attend the group had a productive discussion. These monthly meetings help keep everyone looped in and moving forward together.

Other News

Behind the Scenes Support

Behind the scenes, our Logistics and Finance Officers ensured a smooth lead-up to our upcoming Strategic Planning Workshop by securing the venue and finalizing catering for sessions scheduled on April 1st and 4th.

Throughout the month, our Finance and Admin Officer worked closely with the Projects team and Program Manager to review and refine the YWLP workplan, making sure program activities and budgets aligned.

The FAO also supported venue sourcing for two planning workshops, one for internal staff and another with external stakeholders, and helped put the finishing touches on our newly relocated office, creating a more functional and welcoming space for the team.

March also saw a strong focus on logistics across the board. A key highlight was preparing our Executive Director for her trip to New York to attend the 69th Commission on the Status of Women, where she joined global conversations on gender equality. We’re grateful to Pacific Feminist Fund for covering travel costs, and to Balance of Power for making this important representation possible.

We also revisited project budgets that were paused following the recent earthquake and are pleased to share that we’re set to relaunch those initiatives in April. On March 20th, we met with CARE International to discuss project funding and upcoming plans, and we’re excited to build on this strong partnership in the months ahead.

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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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