Sot Sot Storian competition judges wowed by youth sign language submissions

Jul 21, 2025 | Sot Sot Storian, Initiatives and Projects, News | 0

Sign language is one of Vanuatu’s many, diverse languages that are used across the archipelago for people to communicate. So, when the Sot Sot Storian writing competition ran for its second year this year, open to submissions in any of Vanuatu’s languages, several students from Pikinini Playtime submitted in sign language.

“Vanuatu has many deaf people who have stories to tell,” shared judge Ketty Dan Napwatt, a long-time teacher, writer and literacy advocate. “We received four submissions in sign language, as one of the languages used in Vanuatu.”

This is a historic first for a national competition that encourages submission from youth (12-17 years) and open (18+ years) categories. Inclusion of sign language in the range of Vanuatu languages accepted in the competition underscores the inclusion that national discussion and the competition theme on culture and identity has called for.

Over 7,000 people living with disabilities in Vanuatu estimated to have ‘hearing complications’, with complete deafness requiring the use of signs and writing to communicate. Sign language is also used by carers of people who are deaf and the extended family to enable communication and is also often used by children who are non-verbal, including children who have an intellectual disability, and their families for communication. Sign language enables conversations with persons who are deaf, and, as the Sot Sot Storian competition judges discovered, allows for rich storytelling.

The competition is supported by a volunteer-run partnership between Nabanga Pikinini, Alliance Francaise de Port-Vila, Melanesian Women Today, Sista and the Vanuatu Writers Collective which includes writers from highly regarded Sista, Stanap Strong! and Taf Tumas children’s books. This year prizes are generously sponsored by writer and poet Rebecca Olul-Hossen through her Mildred Sope Award for Creative Storytelling.

A new special prize has been created to encourage sign language storytellers, generously sponsored by Leina Isno, a ni-Vanuatu PhD student and poet. Prizes will be awarded on 25 July as part of Independence week celebrations.

SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

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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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‘Sot Sot Storian’ 2024 writing competition attracts 70 Vanuatu submissions

Sot Sot Storian competition judges wowed by youth sign language submissions

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‘Sot Sot Storian’ 2024 writing competition attracts 70 Vanuatu submissions