MEDIA ADVISORY

Wednesday, 8 February 2006

NZ Foreign Minister to launch Fiji Civics Education programme

Today Foreign Minister Winston Peters launched the Fiji Civics Education initiative committing New Zealand funding of FJD$2.53million to UNDP’s Good Governance Programme. The programme aims to make the key institutions of governance more relevant and accessible to the people of Fiji.

“New Zealand views the provision of this sort of support as a unique opportunity to assist with developing a fair and robust environment for the future development of Fiji.”

“The course is designed to show, through lessons in class and through practical work, how politics can be conducted in a peaceful, lawful, participatory and equitable manner. It is designed also to support the teaching of human rights and civic education topics in the curriculum of both primary and secondary schools,” said Mr Peters.

New Zealand is the primary donor to the UNDP programme, which is made up of three distinct components. Today’s launch covers ‘Component 2’ a school-based civic education programme (that will be implemented under supervision of the Ministry of Education).

Mr Peters, on behalf of the New Zealand Government, signed a Cost Share Arrangement for the programme with UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Hans de Graaff in Suva today, while the Fijian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. Kaliopate Tavola and the Minister of Education Hon. Ro Teimumu Kepa signed the Project Document with UNDP.

ENDS

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