Retired school teachers bound for Vanuatu for a two year assignment under the Fiji Volunteer Scheme (FVS) were today farewelled at the Public Service Commission (PSC) headquarters at Berkeley Crescent, Suva.
Chairman of the Public Service Mr Josefa Seruilagilagi presented these teachers with air tickets and other necessary documents. The 11 school teachers leave for Vanuatu on February 1.
Fiji and Vanuatu signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on December 12, 2013 paving the way for the dispatch of skilled personnel to Vanuatu under the FVS. In a historic development, Vanuatu becomes the first country in the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) to sign the volunteer services agreement that will see the recruitment of retired school teachers from Fiji to teach in Vanuatu.
Mr Serulagilagi thanked the Volunteer teachers for taking up the initiative to share their skills and knowledge with the communities in Vanuatu.
“Please be reminded that your assignment is covered under a Memorandum of Agreement which both the Fijian and Vanuatu Governments have agreed and signed under its development cooperation.
“You are representing the people of Fiji and I beg that you be law abiding citizens and good ambassadors of our country. Look after your health and look out for each other whilst on this assignment.”
Mr Serulagilagi reminded them to spend quality time with their family and loved ones during the one week they have left as they will be travelling alone.
“There are a lot of benefits through volunteering and the most valuable skills that could assist in your volunteer work are compassion, having an open mind, a willingness to do whatever is needed, and a positive attitude,” he added.
PSC Permanent Secretary, Parmesh Chand said the 11 retired school teachers were selected through their field of assignments and in accordance with the preference provided by the Vanuatu Government’s Ministry of Education.
Mr Chand said that these 11 teachers will teach English, Agriculture, Mathematics, Economics, Geography, Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
He said that there are terms and conditions of employment that these retired school teachers will need to adhere to and they have been addressed and agreed upon by both the Government of Fiji and Vanuatu during the signing of the MOA.
“Our retired school teachers are given the opportunity to continue sharing their knowledge.
“Through this MOA given that Vanuatu is the first MSG country to sign, other MSG countries and most probably other potential Pacific island countries in the region will be able to see how important the Fiji Volunteer Scheme is and how Fiji has sufficient skilled human resources in professions such as Teachers, Nurses etc. to assist in the areas of need identified by these regional countries,” PS Chand said.
He said that the FVS is becoming increasingly popular both locally and in the neighbouring Pacific Island Countries.
“It is helping to build capacity both in the industry sector and in public service in hosting organizations/ countries and simultaneously provide Fiji an opportunity to respond and assist those seeking assistance given our human resource capacity and experiences.”
There are currently 12 teachers in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, six (6) in Nauru, now another 11 bound for Vanuatu and nine (9) teachers are expected to leave for Tuvalu this year.
In the 2014 budget announcement, the Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama had announced a budget of $1 million for the Scheme which is a two and half fold increase to allow it to achieve maximum impact and results for all stakeholders.
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