The PRIDE Poject

The PRIDE project, based at the University of the South Pacific, seeks to enhance student learning in fifteen Pacific countries by strengthening the capacity of each Ministry of Education (or equivalent) to plan and deliver quality basic education. The PRIDE Project defines basic education as all education provisions for children and youth except higher education. It includes early childhood, elementary, primary and secondary education, together with Technical & Vocational Education & Training (TVET), and covers both the formal and non-formal sectors.

In 2006 the PRIDE projet was instrumental in the regional workshop “The Role of TVET in Pacific Secondary Schools: New Visions; New Pathways” which took place in Koror. Part of the process required reflecting on global development in vocational education and examining the implications for the Pacific. The notion of integrating the best of the contemporary global with the best of the local was embedded at the heart of the workshop. The workshop was funded by the PRIDE Project in collaboration with UNESCO-UNEVOC (International Centre for Technica Education and Training) and PATVET. It would be interesting to know how far things have come since this meeting. Anyone know?

Replicating success

The philosophy behind Success Case Replication is that among the rural poor are farmers and groups that have achieved a remarkable level of success at their occupations, whether in agriculture, animal husbandry, micro-enterprises or management of participatory groups or cooperatives. In achieving such success, they have gained valuable experience overcoming varied constraints. In a manner of speaking, they have become experts in their chosen field. These successful people have much to teach their peers and, because they are fully familiar with local language, customs and markets, they can become effective instructors.

An enterprise and training tool all in one that could be easily adapted for youth!

The Pacific Youth Volunteer Scheme

It was interesting to learn about the development of the Pacific Youth Volunteer Scheme at the recent youth stakeholders meeting. Such a scheme has significant potential to improve capacity and skills building among Pacific youth in the area of agriculture and related livelihoods and should definitely be explored further in this context.

Who's mentoring who?

The benefits in terms of capacity and skills-building of a period spent in mentoring or as an intern are widely recognised. Unfortunately I am not aware of any such mentoring/internship programmes that focus on youth in agriculture in the Pacific region but would very much like to hear about any such programmes if they exist.

Please share your experiences here.

ADB funded regional survey of TVET skills development in the Pacific

The Asian Development Bank funded a Regional Skills Development Study that was executed by the Forum Secretariat in 2006-2007. Fifteen reports were written that will contribute towards a regional synthesis report. This regional report is still being edited by the ADB in Manila . However, the Forum Secretariat have put the other reports on their website They contain a wealth of information on the status of skills development/technical and vocational education and training in most of their Pacific member countries. Two country reports are yet to be finalized, but 11 country reports, a literature review and a survey of employers and employees can be found here for download. It is hoped that the last two reports will be uploaded soon.

The country reports are comprehensive and provide excellent up-to-date information on formal/informal TVET, enterprise-based training, private training institutions as well as future plans for TVET and analysis of key issues.

If you would like a copy of the final draft of the regional report, please contact Henry Ivarature at PIFS.

Community Education Training Centre (CETC)

CETC , based at SPC, contributes to human resources development through education and training in community development. For four decades CETC has been training women as community workers and leaders to help improve the well-being of Pacific communities. CETC is the only regional institution in the Pacific that offers training on community development for women of the Pacific. The training program focuses on grassroot communities and also extends to meet modern needs in training. Recently it has placed greater emphasis on income generating activities that will increase employment opportunities and therefore promote social and economic empowerment of women and therefore making a difference in the lives of the people in the community. More recently CETC has been involved in the development of 4-week courses in Enterprise Training of Trainers and Citizenship, Leadership and Governance. Other courses and training have focused on developing business skills, micro-enterprise training, competency-based economics through formation of entrepreneurs (CEFE) training of trainers. Clearly many of these experiences could inform a youth and agriculture stratgy and provide much guidance in developing progammes and activities to build relevant youth skills.

Pacific Association of Technical and Vocational Education and Training

The Pacific Association of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (PATVET) is the principal interactive forum for the TVET sector in the Pacific region to discuss and debate issues of concern to the sector, as well as advocating on behalf of TVET in the wider education and development sectors. PATVET is a united voice to advocate, influence, promote, lead and set standards for TVET in the Pacific. In brief, the Association:
a. Advocates for overall development of the TVET sector in the Pacific
b. Influences TVET policy formulation and resource mobilization
c. Leads the charge to set standards on the delivery and recognition of TVET in the Pacific
d. Promotes TVET career opportunities for Pacific peoples in the region, and the wider international community
e. Promotes measures to secure life skills and sustainable livelihoods in the Pacific.

PATVET will clearly be an important player in the development of a sustainable strategy to improve youth livelihoods through agriculture. The website has links to a number of contacts, including the current PATVET coordinator Emily Hazelman, as well as 'youth-based training activities and TVET rural training projects and national TVET providers.