Vaka Pasifiki Education Webinar Series Concludes On A Strong Note

The Pacific Regional Education Framework (PacREF) and The University of the South Pacific Institute of Education (USP-IoE) recently wrapped off a series of webinars addressing crucial education implications emerging from education development projects across the Pacific region.

The Vaka Pasifiki Education Webinar Series focused on three school literacy and leadership projects implemented in Cook Islands, Solomon Islands and Tonga between 2014 and 2021, funded by the New Zealand Aid Programme. The learnings from these projects were shared over four webinar events on the 7th, 8th, 14th and 15th of July, 2022.

The ‘Shared learnings from the Leaders and Education Authority Project (LEAP), Pacific Literacy and School Leadership Project (PLSLP) and the Tonga Education Support Activity (TESA)’ is an activity under the Policy Area 4 – Teaching Profession of the Pacific Regional Education Framework (PacREF). These projects were implemented in partnership with the respective Ministries of Education, by a consortium comprising the USP Institute of Education (USP-IoE) and The University of Auckland (UoA), and for the Solomon Islands, the Fellowship of Faithful Mentors (FFM).

Previous evaluative reporting from each project demonstrated notable successes in advancing learning outcomes. The webinar series allowed those involved in the projects to share the mix of conditions and components that contributed to the success and learnings for future activities, including the continued need to:

• cultivate locally-based relational leadership, expertise and engagement;
• foster collective learning and legacy creation for sustainability;
• invest in culturally, contextually and linguistically appropriate methodologies and resources;
• explore ‘home-grown’ and contextually appropriate models for professional development in each Pacific country context;
• and to consider the findings of this research for initiatives under the Pacific Regional Education Framework (PacREF).

Panellists included Associate Professor Kabini Sanga (Victoria University of Wellington), Associate Professor Rebecca Jesson (University of Auckland), and Rt. Hon. Dr ‘Ana Maui Taufe‘ulungaki (Christ’s University in Pacific), Dr Pip Arnold (Karekare Education), Dr Teukava Finau (The University of the South Pacific), Dr Irene Paulsen, Researcher & Mentor (Fellowship of Faithful Mentors (FFM)), Stanley Houma, Researcher & Mentor (Fellowship of Faithful Mentors (FFM)), Ana Heti Veikune (USP), Roselyn Maneipuri (Solomon Islands National University), Dr Seu‘ula Johansson-Fua (USP) and Dr Jacinta Oldehaver (University of Auckland). IoE Research Associate, Rebecca Spratt was the Chair and Moderator for all the webinar events.

IoE Director, Dr Seu‘ula Johansson-Fua said the webinar series was essential activity as it helps strengthen the school literacy and leadership in the region.

She emphasised that Pacific educators benefited from the shared learnings brought forward and the possibilities in advancing learning outcomes. While the Public audience received trans-disciplinary knowledge from panellists through the sharing of successes and lessons learnt.

"As a result, the webinar significantly strengthens the awareness on school literacy and leadership progress in the Cook Islands, Solomon Islands and Tonga, which may benefit other Pacific countries," she added.

Dr Seu‘ula stressed that the webinar series also contributed to the overall output in the PacREF policy area of Teacher Profession where 'school leadership domains are applied to evidence base strategically focused Professional Development and Learning (PDL) to improve learning outcomes for students.

USP-IoE is one of the implementing agencies for PacREF.

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