Through PacREF, we have strengthened our ability as Pacific education systems to work together with purpose and clarity. The framework has given us a common platform to coordinate efforts, learn from each other in the spirit of Wansolwara—one salt water— and build strong partnerships. Most importantly, PacREF has enabled Pacific voices and leadership to shape the solutions we need—solutions that are grounded in our realities, responsive to our priorities, and driven by our shared vision for education in the region.
Wayne MendiolaAssistant, Secretary, Federated States of Micronesia National Department of Education, and Chair of the Pacific Heads of Education Systems
The island nations in the Pacific Ocean share similar challenges to ensuring equitable access to quality education, including hard-to-reach populations in remote locations and vulnerability to climate disasters that disrupt education.
There is a long history of collaboration among these countries through regional approaches and shared regional frameworks, with a view to enabling countries to effectively respond to education challenges.
In 2018, Pacific Islands Forum Education Ministers adopted the Pacific Regional Education Framework 2018-2030 (PacREF)
It provides a platform for countries to come together to find Pacific-led solutions, achieve economies of scale, and embed Pacific culture, values and knowledge into the development of their education systems.
Achieving the outcomes of the PacREF policy is a collective effort by Pacific Island countries and their partners.
A separate regional support program is also contributing to this through the joint development of Regional Goods (RGs), which are providing an integrated set of tools, standards and mechanisms that address shared priorities across the region.
GPE’s support to Pacific-led programs
A GPE regional grant of US$14.9 million for 2021–2025 covers 85% of the costs of the PacREF support program, which supports all 15 Pacific Island countries, including GPE partner countries Fiji, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. The program, co-funded by New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, is managed by the Asian Development Bank. The PacREF implementing agencies—namely the University of the South Pacific (USP), UNESCO, UNICEF, Pacific Community’s Educational Quality and Assessment Programme (EQAP) and the Australia’s Pacific Training Coalition (APTC 2017-2025)—work together to support and facilitate the development of the regional goods under the program, as endorsed by the Pacific Heads of Education System (Permanent Secretary-level officials from each of the 15 countries). Additional support to PacREF policy implementation is provided by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through long-standing strategic partnerships with USP and EQAP. The Implementation of the PacREF support program has benefited countries in different ways. The development of regional goods allows countries to adapt evidence-based regional tools in support of in-country solutions, saving resources and funding and supporting Pacific-led solutions. The approach also allows for cross-country learning for officers at different levels, with opportunities to come together with their peers to learn from and problem-solve together. Regular meetings between all partners working on PacREF have fostered more effective coordination and collaboration. As Pacific Island countries plan to transition PacREF from a first to a second phase, here’s a look at some of the progress so far through the support program.
Enhancing the role of culture and language in education
A key priority for Pacific Education Ministers is incorporating culture and identity in curriculum development, teacher training programs and delivery.
The Institute of Education of the University of the South Pacific (IoE-USP) has led work to embed cultural and traditional knowledge in curricula across the Pacific.
A regional workshop brought together participants from across the region to explore traditional knowledge systems and the opportunities to weave Pacific culture into mainstream education, empowering future generations with a curriculum deeply rooted in their identity.
IoE-USP is now working with seven countries to develop science and math resources that use indigenous concepts and knowledge to enrich students’ education experiences and nurture their connections to their heritage.
The Pacific Employability Transferable All-Life Skills (PETALS) framework represents a collective effort across countries to identify the values, competencies and skills, grounded in their cultures and values, that Pacific children and youth need to succeed in the 21st century.
The framework is complemented with guidance on how to embed these attributes into curriculum, teacher training and assessment.
read more: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/regional-collaboration-strengthens-education-pacific-island-countries?hub=701
