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Hon. Filipe Bole, CBE, Minister for Education, National Heritage, Culture and Arts, Youth and Sports Fiji College of Advanced Education Hall Thursday 8 May, 2008 ∑ MEMBERS OF THE EDUCATION FORUM, ∑ MINISTRY OFFICIALS, ∑ LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, INTRODUCTORY REMARKS I AM HONOURED TO BE HERE THIS MORNING TO ADDRESS THIS FIRST MEETING OF THE EDUCATION FORUM, THIS YEAR. AT THE OUTSET, I WISH TO STATE, THAT I FIND IT VERY ENCOURAGING THAT THIS FORUM, COMPRISES SOME OF THE MOST PASSIONATE AND THE MOST EXPERIENCED EDUCATION STAKEH`OLDERS IN FIJI. INDEED EXPERIENCE AND PASSION ARE TWO OF THE BEST INGREDIENTS FOR ANY DISCUSSION, AS THEY GUARANTEE DEPTH OF THOUGHT, RICHNESS OF DIALOGUE AND LOYALTY. LET ME ASSURE YOU THAT THE ROLE OF THE EDUCATION FORUM IS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE IN GUIDING THE DIRECTION OF THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION. YOUR ROLE AS ADVISORS TO THE MINISTER FOR EDUCATION, I HIGHLY VALUE. CONSIDER YOUR CONTRIBUTION SIMILAR TO THAT QUOTED IN ONE OF THE UNESCO STRATEGY DOCUMENTS OF BEING “A LABORATORY OF IDEAS, A STANDARD SETTER, A CAPACITY BUILDER AND A CATALYST…”. UNQUOTE GLOBALIZATION AND THE CHALLEGES IN EDUCATION LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, YOU WILL AGREE WITH ME, NO DOUBT, THAT THIS IS A GREAT TIME FOR EDUCATION IN FIJI. AND FOR THOSE WHO CRAVE THE ADRENALIN RUSH, GLOBALIZATION HAS ENSURED THAT THERE IS NO OTHER CHOICE - BUT THAT, WE MOVE AT A BREATH-TAKING PACE. IT SEEMS SOMEWHAT PUZZLING FOR US, TO FULLY GRASP HOW FAR AND HOW FAST WE HAVE COME, PARTICULARLY IN THE LAST FEW DECADES. WHILE SUCH A PACE CAN BE EXHILARATING, IT CANNOT HELP BUT CREATE NEW ILLS, AS IT DISPELS OLD ONES. THERE IS NEW IGNORANCE, NEW PROBLEMS AND NEW DANGERS, AND INDEED, HERE IN FIJI, WE HAVE OUR OWN SHARE OF NEW ISSUES. THE DROP-OUT RATE, WHICH MADE HEADLINES IN THE MEDIA, DURING THE PRINCIPALS’ CONFERENCE IS ONE SUCH ISSUE. THE FIGURES PROVIDED BY THE NATIONAL SUBSTANCE ABUSE ADVISORY COUNCIL IS ALSO OF GRAVE CONCERN. IN A SURVEY CONDUCTED IN 2003 OF 13 TO 18 YEAR OLDS, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT 69% OF THE RESPONDENTS HAD TRIED YAQONA, 51% HAD CONSUMED ALCOHOL, 43% HAD SMOKED TOBACCO AND 13% HAD USED MARIHUANA. SAD TO SAY, BUT THE REALITY IS THAT, WE HAVE DRUG PUSHERS, DRUNKARDS, CHAIN SMOKERS AND GROG SWIPERS SITTING BEHIND DESKS IN OUR CLASSROOMS. THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE VICTIMS OF CIRCUMSTANCES. WHILE STUDENTS HAVE THEIR ISSUES, TEACHERS ARE ALSO GRAPPLING WITH THEIR OWN. A COUPLE OF WEEKS BACK, THE COURT MADE A RULING ON A TEACHER WHO SEXUALLY MOLESTED HIS STUDENTS. INCIDENTS OF INCEST HAVE BEEN PREVALENT LATELY. OBVIOUSLY MONSTERS GUILTY OF SUCH ACTS, DO NOT EXIST ONLY IN HOME-MADE DUNGEONS IN AUSTRIA. SADLY, OR PERHAPS I SHOULD REALLY SAY, DISGUSTINGLY - WE HAVE A NUMBER OF JOSEF FRITZELS, LURKING IN THE BACKGROUNDS, READY TO POUNCE ON INNOCENT CHILDREN. IT IS AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND THAT OUR CHILDREN EXIST. IN YOUR DELIBERATIONS TODAY, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO BE MINDFUL OF THESE CHALLENGES AND TO EXPLORE THE BEST OPTIONS THAT WILL ENABLE AND EQUIP OUR CHILDREN TO TAKE ON THIS SEEMINGLY CRUEL AND CHALLENGING WORLD. SCHOOL OWNERS AND SCHOOL COMMITTEES ALSO FACE NEW CHALLENGES. AT MANAGEMENT LEVEL, WE HAVE BEEN CONFRONTED WITH ISSUES RELATING TO EXPIRY OF LAND LEASES, THE MISUSE OF BUILDING GRANTS AND TUITION FEES AND THE ALL-TOO-COMMON PRACTICE OF TEACHERS AND COMMITTEES LOCKING EACH OTHER OUT ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL. WHILE I DO NOT INTEND TO PAINT A SEEMINGLY GLOOMY PICTURE OF EDUCATION IN FIJI, THE REALITY REMAINS, THAT IT IS WITHIN THIS CONTEXT, THAT WE ARE EXPECTED TO PROVIDE FOR OUR INNOCENT CHILDREN, AN EDUCATION THAT WILL NURTURE AND MOULD THEM TO BECOME VIRTUOUS CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTRY. AS YOU IMMERSE YOURSELVES INTO THE AGENDA OF THIS MEETING, BE REMINDED TO DELVE DEEPER INTO THE CHALLENGES AND THE ISSUES THAT I HAVE JUST MADE REFERENCE TO. OUR RESOLUTIONS CAN ONLY BECOME EFFECTIVE IF THEY ARE REALISTICALLY TARGETED AND FOCUSED ON SCHOOL LIFE AS IT IS AND SCHOOL LIFE AS WE WISH IT TO BE. PRIORITIES OF THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION IN 2008 LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, NOT ALL IS BAD NEWS, THOUGH. LET ME ASSURE YOU, THAT DESPITE THE CHALLENGES, THERE ARE NUMEROUS EXCITING DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING. IN THE RECENT PAST, THE MINISTRY HAS COME TO THE REALIZATION THAT IT NEEDS TO IMPROVE ON SERVICE DELIVERY. TO ACHIEVE THIS, IT HAS TO , AT THE OUTSET, STRENGTHEN ITS CONSULTATIVE FRAMEWORK. THE DIVISIONAL SCHOOL MANAGEMENT BOARDS, WHICH ARE LINKED TO THIS FORUM WAS IMPLEMENTED WITH THE VIEW TO IMPROVE ON CONSULTATION. ONCE ALL THE PRELIMINARY WORK IS COMPLETED, THE EDUCATION FORUM SHOULD BECOME A MORE VIBRANT AGENCY. FOR TOO LONG, IT HAS REMAINED A SOMEWHAT TOOTHLESS TIGER! FURTHERMORE, THIS YEAR, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF EXCITING PROJECTS BEING IMPLEMENTED! HOWEVER, BEFORE I GO INTO THE DETAILS OF THESE, LET ME SAY THAT I SOMETIMES THINK THAT WE ARE TOO MUCH IMPRESSED BY THE CLAMOUR OF DAILY EVENTS. THE NEWSPAPER HEADLINES AND THE TELEVISION SCREENS GIVE US A SHORT VIEW. THIS SHORT VIEW GIVES US THE IMPRESSION AS A NATION OF BEING SHOVED AND HARRIED, EVERYWHERE ON THE DEFENSIVE. IF WE ARE TO DO JUSTICE TO OUR BELOVED CHILDREN, THIS IMPRESSION SHOULD ONLY BE AN OPTICAL ILLUSION! WISDOM REQUIRES THE LONG VIEW! AND WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION, LET US NOT BE SO FLOODED BY THE STOP-PRESS DETAILS OF DAILY STORIES SO THAT WE LOSE SIGHT OF OUR CORE FUNCTION AS EDUCATION PROVIDERS. AND FOR ME, AS MINISTER, THAT LONG VIEW, IS ACTUALLY WHAT IS HAPPENING INSIDE THE CLASSROOMS - THE TEACHING AND LEARNING PROCESS. IT WAS FOR THIS REASON, THAT WE DECIDED THAT THIS YEAR, THE MINISTRY’S NUMBER ONE PRIORITY WOULD BE THE IMPROVEMENT OF UNDER-PERFORMING SCHOOLS. A TOTAL OF 72 SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED. I HAVE PERSONALLY VISITED MOST OF THESE SCHOOLS. A TASKFORCE HAS BEEN PUT IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT RESOURCES ARE PROVIDED BY THE MINISTRY, SO THAT COME 2009, THE RESULTS OF THESE SCHOOLS WILL BE A VAST IMPROVEMENT FROM THE PAST. ON THE SAME NOTE, THE MINISTRY HAS RECENTLY RE-LOOKED AT THE VISION AND STRATEGY OF GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS. WHILE GOVERNMENT HAS QUITE GENEROUSLY PROVIDED FOR GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS, THE OUTPUT PRODUCED HAS NOT QUITE MATCHED THE RESOURCES ALLOCATED. OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, RESULTS HAVE NOT BEEN VERY ENCOURAGING. TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM, WE HAVE SOME EXCITING PLANS IN PLACE. THESE ARE STILL IN THEIR EARLY STAGES, AND BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR, CONSULTATIONS WILL BE HELD WITH SCHOOL BOARDS AND OTHER RELEVANT AUTHORITIES. IT IS ANTICIPATED, THAT WITH THE SUPPORT OF ALL STAKEHOLDERS, THE 14 GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS WILL BE RESTORED TO THEIR FORMER GLORY. OTHER INITIATIVES INCLUDE THE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION AND THE TEACHER REGISTRATION BOARD. THE SECRETARIAT OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION IS NOW IN OPERATION. THE HIGHER EDUCATION BOARD HAS BEEN APPOINTED AND HAS ALREADY HELD A SERIES OF MEETING. PART OF THE MINISTRY’S RE-STRUCTURE ALSO INCLUDES THE SETTING UP OF THE FIJI NATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY. THE ROLE OF THE AUTHORITY IS TO ENSURE THAT QUALIFICATIONS PROVIDED IN FIJI ARE RELEVANT AND FOCUSED. WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE PRELIMINARY WORK DONE BY TPAF AND THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, WILL NOW PROGRESS THE WORK FURTHER. SO FOR HIGHER EDUCATION IN FIJI, THERE ARE GOOD TIMES AHEAD. THE SECRETARIAT OF THE TEACHER REGISTRATION BOARD HAS ALSO BEEN SET UP. APART FROM THE BUSINESS OF REGISTERING TEACHERS, THE BOARD WILL ALSO MONITOR THE COURSES OFFERED BY TEACHER TRAINING INSTITUTIONS, TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE OF A HIGH STANDARD. IT WILL ALSO DEVELOP A NEW CODE OF ETHICS FOR THE TEACHING PROFESSION. IN THE MIDST OF ALL THESE EXCITING DEVELOPMENTS, WE ARE ALSO TRYING OUR BEST TO ADHERE TO THE CALL BY GOVERNMENT FOR CIVIL SERVICE REFORMS, ONE OF WHICH IS THE 10% REDUCTION IN OPERATING COSTS. CONSULTATIONS HAVE BEEN HELD WITH THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION AND CABINET. WE HAVE IDENTIFIED CERTAIN OPTIONS, BUT BE REST ASSURED, THAT, IN AS FAR AS IS POSSIBLE, WE WILL NOT COMPROMISE THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION. THE WELFARE OF OUR TEACHERS WILL ALSO BE TAKEN CARE OF. CONCLUDING REMARKS LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT IS OBVIOUS, THAT THE NEW CHALLENGE TODAY IS TO BUILD CONSENSUS BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND ALL OUR VALUED EDUCATION PARTNERS. WE NEED NEWLY REQUIRED NORMS AND PRINCIPLES TO RESPOND TO EMERGING CHALLENGES AND DILEMMAS THAT ARISE OUT OF GLOBALIZATION. UNESCO SAYS: “THE GROWING COMMERCIALIZATION OF MANY SPHERES PREVIOUSLY CONSIDERED AS PUBLIC GOODS, SUCH AS EDUCATION…JEOPARDISES WEAKER, ECONOMICALLY LESS POWERFUL MECHANISMS OF CONTROL AND DEMANDS NEW APPROACHES TO THE PROTECTION OF THE RIGHTS OF THE INDIVIDUALS. UNQUOTE. FOR ALL OF US, THE CHALLENGE IS TO PROVIDE FOR OUR CHILDREN THE BEST EDUCATION WE CAN OFFER. THIS IS THEIR RIGHT AND OUR OBLIGATION. UNLESS NATIONALLY AGREED FRAMEWORKS CAN BE DEFINED, OUR POOR AND DISADVANTED CHILDREN WILL CONTINUE TO BE DENIED THE BENEFITS OF GLOBALIZATION. INDEED, GLOBALIZATION MUST BE MADE TO WORK FOR ALL. IN CONCLUSION, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I HOPE THAT THE EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE THAT YOU BRING TOGETHER HERE, WILL ALLOW FOR A BROAD EXCHANGE OF VIEWS, COMBINING GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES WITH SPECIFIC NATIONAL CONCERNS. I LOOK FORWARD TO CATCHING UP LATER WITH YOUR CONCLUSIONS, AND TO BEING MORE DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THE SUBSEQUENT WORK. I WISH YOU A PRODUCTIVE DAY HERE, AND I THANK YOU FOR GIVING YOUR TIME TO THIS ENDEAVOUR. FINALLY, I NOW HAVE MUCH PLEASURE IN OFFICIALLY OPENING THE FIRST EDUCATION FORUM MEETING FOR 2008! VINAKA VAKALEVU! ____________________ |
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