Safe transport for para-athletes in Port Vila

Dec 6, 2024 | Sports | 0

The Vanuatu Paralympic Committee (VPC) has unveiled a 12-seater Foton bus for para-athletes in Port Vila to mark the International Day of People with Disability.

This milestone marks the fulfillment of a long-held dream to provide safe and reliable transportation for para-athletes, who have faced ongoing challenges with daily transportation.

The bus, funded by the Carbine Club and the Vanuatu Association of Sports Olympic Committee (VASANOC), will serve the para-athlete community by facilitating transportation to training sessions and events.

It has features for disabled people including a well -adjusted rump to ease access to get on the bus and sitting area to accommodate three wheelchairs.

The formal handover ceremony was a joyous occasion, symbolizing years of perseverance and collaboration.

Since its inception in April 2017, the VPC has faced challenges in securing free and safe transport for para-athletes.

The breakthrough moment came when Daniel Agius, a long-time supporter, asked Margaret McFarlane, VPC President about her most urgent need.

Her response—a million vatu for transportation—prompted Agius to write a check for VT1,000,000 on the spot.

Despite their efforts, a serious incident involving a young female para-athlete underscored the need for safer and more reliable transport options.

“That incident made us even more determined to provide free and secure transportation for our athletes,” McFarlane said.

The journey to secure a dedicated bus gained momentum when VASANOC and CEO David Lolo facilitated the donation of the un-used vehicle from his office to VPC.

However, it was the Carbine Club’s additional support that ensured the bus became operational, with necessary repairs, registration, and signage.

During the handover, VPC Patron Sethy Regenvanu extended his gratitude to all who made the dream possible.

He commended para-athletes, including javelin thrower Ken Kahu, who is ranked 9th in the world following his remarkable performance in Paris this August.

Regenvanu encouraged the athletes to embrace their unique abilities and continue striving for excellence.

“Today’s handover demonstrates the community’s recognition of your value and contribution,” Regenvanu said, addressing the para-athletes.

Carbine Club representative Tony Ryan praised the collaboration, expressing his hope that the bus will be well-maintained and become a symbol of opportunity for athletes.

VASANOC CEO Lolo shared his excitement for the project, emphasizing its significance for athlete safety and accessibility.

“This bus ensures our para-athletes can train and travel safely. It’s a testament to what we can achieve through partnerships,” he said.

With the new bus now in operation, para-athletes in Port Vila can look forward to a safer and more inclusive sporting environment.

The VPC, its sponsors, and partners remain committed to empowering the para-athlete community, making this milestone a steppingstone for greater achievements.

As the festive season approaches, the celebration of this achievement is a reminder of the power of community support and determination in overcoming challenges.

SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

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Dr Damutalau said most HPV infections clear naturally, but some remain and can increase the risk of cervical cancer. He said about 90 per cent of cervical cancers are linked to HPV, which is why vaccination and early screening are important. SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

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More boys than girls 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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