Minister for Education, Filipe Bole while opening the Ministry of Education Donors Sectoral Meeting yesterday announced the Ministry’s support towards the initiative to create model primary and secondary schools.
“A new initiative supported by the Ministry of Education is the creation of model primary and secondary schools. As part of this scheme, selected primary and secondary school management would be handed over to the Fiji National University,” Mr Bole said.
However, the ministry will still handle the curriculum, examination and remuneration components of the selected schools.
FNU would be responsible for the school management and will be tasked to create, with the same financial resources which the school receives, an environment which would elevate learning in the schools while making ICT an essential teaching and learning tool.
It is envisaged that the schools will allow for quality teacher training.
“The qualitative changes would be brought about by creating stronger linkages with the corporate sector and the school alumnus. The schools will serve a useful purpose in quality teacher training,” Mr Bole added.
At present, Nasinu Secondary School is being converted into a model technical school where form four students can enter for training and attain certificates one, two and some certificate three programmes in technical and craft skill.
With this new dimension, the Education Ministry may have to reorient its management of TVET (Technical Vocational Education Training) programmes in secondary schools.
Through the same concept of model school, FNU is looking at increasing TVET type skills in primary schools. This would include introducing more education in items such as machines and tools and relooking at human history from technology perspective.
Mr Bole said that aid donors should be made aware of such initiatives.
“ I believe that it is essential that aid donors know that there are new initiatives in the education sector and that education in Fiji has developed from where it was in the last ten years,” Mr Bole concluded.
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