Pacific Education Ministers are meeting for the first time in Auckland from 20-22 March to share knowledge and good practices, identify areas of action and explore innovative approaches that member countries can adopt to develop education systems in the region.

Tonga is represented by the Prime Minister, Hon. Hu'akavameiliku, who is also Minister of Education. 

He said without education and capacity development to drive economic growth, we will remain dependent on others to finance our development goals, without curricula that draw on the best of our traditions and cultures, we will never have the people to build climate resilient, Pacific-relevant, societies and communities.

“Without focused education, we will not have the scientists and technicians to develop the approaches we need for a just and equitable transition away from fossil fuels and toward renewables based economies, something which a number of our Pacific Ministers called for in cyclone-struck Port Vila last week.

“Without education, we will never capitalise on our immeasurable ocean-based resources including our fishery, genetic materials, minerals, and renewable energy. Indeed, without education, the promise of the blue economy will, ironically, never materialize for us, the stewards of the Pacific Ocean,” he said.

“In short, without education there can be no 2050 future, and in this respect, let me re-emphasise how important it is that you meet here this week; so that you may bring a renewed energy and focus to this important matter.

“I encourage you to consider how we might ensure that education drives the achievement of the objectives that we harbour as sovereign states and as a region. For me, education is not only a development goal. It is a strategic imperative for our region if we are to reach our 2050 vision."

Empowering Pacific 

Host, New Zealand Education Minister Jan Tinetti on the conference’s theme, ‘Empowering Education for Pacific People,’ said one of the primary objectives of the conference is to define what empowering education means for Pacific people and societies.

“This will guide policy and decision-making to ensure students are equipped with the skills, knowledge, and values to succeed and contribute to their communities, nations, and region."

She said Pacific Education Ministers are meeting face-to-face, for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and this was also special for her, at her first international hosting opportunity in the portfolio.

USP

USP Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Pal Ahluwalia said the conference would complement efforts by Pacific Island countries to realise their education goals, recognising limited capacities and resources.

“Driven by the principle of regionalism, PacREF provides a mechanism for collaboration between countries, Implementing Agencies (IAs) and Development Partners (DPs) for the collective benefit of the region and individual countries,” he said.

Meawnhile, the conference is organised by USP through the PacREF Facilitating Unit (PFU) and the Government of New Zealand, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, as the lead agency in partnership with the New Zealand Ministry of Education.