“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