Pacific Magazine > Magazine > August 30, 2007

Innovators

Education Innovators

Public education in many Pacific Island countries is in a crisis. While official statistics on literacy rates and attendance may have plateaued, the number of newly graduated young people unable to find work illustrates there are real and underlying problems about the skills they have—and do not have—on leaving school. Our 2007 Innovation issue has identified some places for hope. From a program addressing the basics—ensuring children have the chance to learn without the distractions of an empty belly—to training of young leaders who are already performing well in theworkforce, these six examples show what’s possible. They have in common the understanding that education is a lifelong journey crucial to the social and economic health of every nation, territory and village in our region.

Pacific Islands
Honoring The Best Of Our Teachers

It is perhaps the most important profession in the world—teaching. The chance to educate, inspire and influence our youth has potential to change the world. And 10 lively and dedicated teachers, who recently won the 2007 Pacific Teachers of the Year award, sponsored by the Pacific Resources for Education and Learning, are trying to do just that. 

The 2007 Teachers of the Year. Back row (L-R):  Pam Legdesog, PREL Field-Based Program Specialist, Kenye Anien (Marshall Is.), Christina Orak (Palau), Dolores Gurumow (Yap), Alerson Alik (Kosrae). Front Row: Lourdes Innocenty (Chuuk), Rufina Mendiola (Guam), Acelia Dela Cruz (Northern Marianas), Joserose Jyothibhavan (American Samoa), Mayleen Saimon(Pohnpei).  PHOTO: Margo Vitarelli

Those honored are chosen within each island nation by their respective departments and ministries of education. There is much diversity among the teachers, each having different cultural traditions, values and languages. Yet they face many of the same challenges inherent in the teaching profession. Teacher of the Year from Chuuk, Lourdes Innocenty, manages an overflowing class of up to 80 students in a room.  Acelia Dela Cruz, of the Northern Marianas, says, “A good teacher does not give up…and must dedicate time to the profession.”

Mayleen Saimon, Teacher of the Year from Pohnpei, FSM, says, “What is more satisfying than seeing the face of a young child brighten with curiosity and eagerness to learn?” Christina Orak of Palau adds that, “A good teacher enjoys and looks forward to working with his or her students and seeing them succeed.”

When asked what makes a good teacher, the ten teachers had varied responses. Some stressed hard work and organization, while others mentioned patience and preparation. An essential ingredient, they all agreed, was caring. “I strive to develop a warm relationship with students which I believe is one of the strengths of the teaching profession,” stated Joserose Jyothibhavan, of American Samoa. Summing it up, Acelia Dela Cruz of Saipan remarked, “Most of all, a good teacher cares for and loves his or her students.”


Guam
Trading Up

The Guam Contractors Association took a giant step last year when it began a training program for workers in the building trades. No one expects the Trades Academy to provide more than a fraction of the 20,000 workers experts predict will be needed to complete the $15 billion surge in military-related construction expected between 2010 and 2020. But academy organizers hope to provide the opportunity for all local workers who wish to take part in the coming boom to do so.

A student at the Guam Trades Academy at work.  PHOTO: Frank Whitman

Five member organizations each loaned the GCA $10,000 interest-free to start the program.

Classes began on October 16 last year with about 20 students. To accommodate working adults, classes are held in the evenings and on Saturdays. The modular curriculum—tuition for a six-class module is $180—permits students to complete modules and then continue as personal schedules and finances permit. The academy offers courses in carpentry, electrical, heavy equipment operation, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning.

As of late July, 43 students were enrolled in academy classes, more than 60 instructors had been certified and about 80 people had taken at least one class since it opened, Education Director Bert Johnston says.


Solomon Islands
Getting Kids Connected

Solomon Islands authorities believe a series of candy-colored computers may revolutionize education in the country. Solomon Islands is to take part in a pilot “One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) project being led by the Secretariat for the Pacific Community that will eventually see the roll out and distribution of several hundred thousand robust, low-cost computers to students.

Solomon Islands Getting Kids Connected.  PHOTO: Courtesy DLC-PFNet

Distance Learning Centers Manager David Leeming is one of those charged with piloting the program. “We know from the region that up to half of school-age children in many of our countries are not or never have attended school. So we are hoping that in these countries, the project will provide new opportunities to all these young people in rural areas.”

A prototype of the OLPC laptops was recently demonstrated in two rural areas. “When we opened the Henua distance learning center by the banks of Lake Tenganno in Rennell, we just placed this laptop with a group of small young girls. We took it outside, and we just showed them how to control the basics of it. We came back an hour later and they were still there—they were actually being riveted by it, they were fascinated by it, they were showing each other how to operate it. So even after one hour, these students who had never touched a computer before were actually helping each other to use it.”

It’s too early to say exactly where and how many computers will be distributed. Leeming says because the computers are cheap, the global OLPC project works on economies of scale and countries would have to order a million or more. Leeming says Pacific Island nations with small populations need to group together. If all goes well with the Solomon Islands pilot, rural children across the Pacific may soon get a chance to log on and link up.

Fiji
Training A New Generation Of Leaders

In 2000 many of Fiji’s chiefs, former politicians, religious leader and even lawyers readily supported the racist agenda of coup leader George Speight who had ousted the one year-old government of Fiji’s first ethnic Indian Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry.

Leadership Fiji participants gathering in Fiji this year.   PHOTO: Courtesy Leadership Fiji.

It was a development watched with alarm by Fiji businessman William Parkinson, who said, “A group of us were wondering what to do about the poor leadership that we were witnessing.”

A friend suggested setting up a program modeled on that of Leadership Victoria in Australia, which brings together “emerging and current eminent leaders in a fruitful exchange of ideas and issues.”

Leadership Fiji was born in 2002, and now has alumni of 117 young leaders. This year, despite yet another coup last December, 27 participants ranging from lawyers, accountants and managers to firemen and technicians are part of the program.
The program’s executive officer Sufi Dean says would-be leaders often become so focused on their careers that there’s no time to develop other skills that could potentially make them into great leaders—skills like thinking critically and listening to and analyzing others’ opinions, social etiquette and developing a broader world view.

“We wanted to train leaders who would have a broad vision for Fiji,” Dean says.

Most of the participants are supported by their employers. Sessions are held twice a month from March to November.

Rick Eyre is manager of tourism projects logistics at Williams & Gosling Ltd, a removals company and is among the handful of participants who are not based in Suva and need to travel to the capital for most of the twice-monthly sessions. “I am challenged by the program to play a greater role in the national community, which given the recent situation we (are) faced with in Fiji has been frustrating for patience and progress,” says Eyre.

Keshni Krishna, an accountant at Trendwest’s WorldMark Resort at Denarau in Nadi says “When we come together we forget that we are Indians, Fijians, Rotumans in the room. We all stand up for one another.”

Thelma Savua, a graduate of the 2003 program and president of the alumni association, describes the most challenging part of the course as “getting everyone on the same page.”

“Dealing with diverse views and opinions and coming to an amicable
consensus on issues—that required some degree of discipline and self control,” says Savua.

Dean says the fact that many of the program’s graduates have been promoted to senior positions within a short time, even finding themselves on corporate and public sector boards, speaks to the strength of Leadership Fiji.

“It’s a good reflection of whether employers find this program worthy of the investment.”


New Zealand
Feeding Young Minds And Bodies

Poor nutrition is being blamed for the poor performance of young Maori and Pacific Island children in New Zealand’s schools. A Massey University commissioned report released in June found that 22.9 percent of Maori, 40.8 percent of Pacific Island descent and 7.7 percent of New Zealand European and other nationalities did not eat breakfast.
 

East Tamaki Primary School pupils enjoying breakfast.  PHOTO: NZ RED CROSS

 In an effort to lift education standards within these ethnic groups, an ambitious breakfast in schools program was launched in May ahead of the release of the report. Instigated by the New Zealand Red Cross, educators have embraced the programme after the success of pilot projects in select primary schools with large Maori and Pacific rolls.

“We feel it’s been very successful, not only from the point of view of feeding the children, but also the fact that they are sitting down together to have breakfast which for some of the children is not the norm,” says Sarah Mirams, principal of East Tamaki Primary School in South Auckland. East Tamaki, a school of 260 children, 70 percent Pacific Island and 30 percent Maori, was the first school to officially participate in Red Cross Breakfast in Schools.

She tells Pacific Magazine that while there is no hard data to illustrate how much of an impact the program is having at her school, she believes “anecdotal evidence suggested children are more calm and focused on their learning.”

Royce Hohaia, 10, a pupil at East Tamaki primary, is enjoying the social aspect of the breakfast program. “The food is healthy and we have lots of fun eating together,” he says.

Massey University researcher Meihana Durie whose own research looks at how cultural protocols can affect lifestyle—says it’s a matter of education rather than money, and the old foods are often the best.

The NZ Red Cross reports that there are now “200 fewer hungry Kiwi kids each day thanks to Red Cross Breakfast in Schools program.” It is currently being served up in eight primary schools, with 13 more starting soon.

The program has received valuable support from the Countdown supermarket chain. Participating schools supply volunteers, facilities and cooking utensils.

“The feedback from every single one of the schools involved in Red Cross Breakfast in Schools has been wholly positive,” says Red Cross Breakfast in schools national proram manager Patrick Cummings.

The NZ Red Cross says it’s committed to offering a nationally co-ordinated, sustainable long term programme that meets the needs of the community. The biggest challenge though is finding committed volunteers who are able to give their time regularly towards bettering their community and the future of its kids.


Palau
Nursing A System Back To Health

Staffing shortages in Pacific Island health systems are one of the unintended results of globalization. In Palau, they are doing something about the problem.

Palauan student nurses get on the job training.  PHOTO: DAVID MIHO

In January this year Dr. Greg Dever, Director of Clinical Services for Belau National Hospital, organized a preliminary assessment of nursing resources. Dr. Dever was concerned about not only the declining number of nursing staff but the
severe rise in overtime and consequential negative budget
variance of close to $300,000.

He was acutely aware of the global nursing shortage. The resulting assessment confirmed that the Ministry of Health had a major problem, now and into the immediate future, with only 84 nurses registered in 2007.

In 2004, there were 106 nurses on staff; 45 (RNs) registered nurses and 61 licensed practical nurses (LPNs). In 2007, that had declined to 84 nurses, a net loss of 22 nurses. Why?

One reason was the Palauan government legislated mandatory retirement at age 60 or 30 years of service. The second reason was compensation; the higher salaries to be made for U.S. federal-funded programs and clinics and hospitals in Guam due to general nursing shortage globally. Overtime demands and restrictions on leave were causing fatigue and a general decline in morale. The problem seemed insolvable without significant increase in funding, and that wasn’t forthcoming.

But Nursing Administrator Josepha Tiobech doesn’t give up easily. She recognized that Palau needed Palauan nurses but the local junior college wasn’t producing enough graduates. Josepha reached out for help to propose a solution.

Enter Patricia Maech, experienced human resource coordinator and U.S. certified Registered Nurse. Maech was familiar with not only the process of identifying potential nurses and recruiting but as a continuing education instructor, knew the shortcomings of the high school system in math and science, which is required for nursing credentials.

In March this year, 25 young high school graduates entered the Ministry of Health’s “Bridging Program.”  The concept was simple; select the right students from high schools in Palau, hire them as nursing assistants (NAs) for four hours a day and have them attend classes for four hours to upgrade skills and knowledge to qualify as Licensed Practical Nurses (LPS) in a year. It is now summer and all 25 students are still in the program.
 
In March 2008, Belau National Hospital and Public Health should have 25 new licensed practical nurses.
 
This program, original and driven by these two capable and dedicated women has proven what can be done and has relevance to other nations in the Pacific and beyond.