Quality education the fastest way to sustainable development

Port Vila, Vanuatu– The Prime Minister of the Republic of Vanuatu, Hon. Sato Kilman Livtuvanu, MP says quality education is unequivocally the fastest way to achieve sustainable development. Opening the 9th Forum Education Ministers’ Meeting (FEdMM) in Port Vila today, Prime Minister Livtuvanu told the Ministers, development partners, representatives of CROP agencies, United Nations agencies and other education stakeholders that, “our societies face many challenges to their livelihood and to embrace new education systems is a reflection that we understand the issues and can find the best intervention.” “Education is the fastest way to fighting the hardships faced by many of our citizens. Education can provide the opportunity for citizens to achieve economic productivity for themselves, their community and countries,” said Prime Minister Livtuvanu. “Improvements can be experienced to improved health, hygiene and quality of the child. Education offers the best chance for individuals to improve self confidence, claiming one’s rights and broadening the choices for self development.” The Prime Minister of Vanuatu said the theme for this year’s FEdMM, “Sustainable Quality Education” is the best and essential down payment for the future of our children. “With the assistance of our development partners, the Vanuatu Government spends about one-third of its recurrent budget on education, which is by far the largest share of our budget to any single sector of the economy. “The explanations are obviously related to the fact that we provide educational services to 83 inhabited islands across the widely spread archipelago. Couple with the constitutional requirement to provide educational services in French and English, the costs end up much, more higher,” said Hon. Livtuvanu. The Vanuatu Prime Minister commended the Forum Education Ministers’ Meeting for serving the region for the last eight years. “This year is yet another time for us to demonstrate our commitment to addressing critical issues affecting our region and to find the best direction for future educational development.” The opening of the 9th FEdMM featured dancing and singing by school children of Port Vila with each Education Minister being escorted into the venue of the ceremony by a child carrying the national flag of that country. A 14-year old school boy also addressed the Ministers and other delegates on issues the children of Vanuatu and the Pacific believe to be important for education of children in the region. he plenary session of the 9th FEdMM starts tomorrow. In the afternoon,the Ministers will go on a half day retreat at the nearby Iririki Resort. The Meeting will conclude on Tuesday this week. ENDS. For media enquiries, contact Mr Johnson Honimae, the Forum Secretariat's Media Officer on phones: 678 5969592, +679 9997998 or email: johnsonh@forumsec.org.fj