Call for academics to promote Pacific culture

Dr Sanga is concerned that school children in the Pacific have the view that they can’t progress in the education system.

“The cultures of peoples of the Pacific are not featured very well within education, within the schooling system.
And children of the Pacific who go to school, even within Pacific countries, do not necessarily see themselves as people who are of place and culture to be intentionally developed by the education system.”

Dr Sanga says one of the problems facing Pacific islanders is that they are missing out on some of the educational opportunities that developed countries offer their citizens.

“Then you have parts of the Pacific where, not all our children are going to school. You have parts of the Pacific who are members of our communities, who are not as able whether it’s physical or psychological or mental, don’t have the same chances as others of us to have access to educational opportunities.

“And so variations of that nature continue to plague many of our Pacific countries, and many of our Pacific peoples are missing out on some of the educational opportunities that a modern state might offer to its citizens.
So that is a key issue. And it’s an issue that the Society like this continues to look at.”

Hawaiian-based Fijian academic, Vilsoni Hereniko, the guest speaker, urged delegates to work together to find solutions to issues affecting education in the region.

He emphasised the need to reflect on the gains, challenges and possibilities of these changing times.

“We could all collaborate, network, focus on, say, relationships amongst people, departments, programmes etc….in order to find solutions to problems we face, whether it’s in education, or in real life, you know big issues like climate change or racial prejudice.”

University of Papua New Guinea academic Anna Joskin says the industry is facing many challenges because classroom practices including teacher views and interactions with students have changed.

Dr Joskin, who is working on a paper on educational change in relation to professional development, says her study is centred on a mandated reform in PNG of the curriculum model and English language teaching.

She says the study will also help academics support government policies.

“I developed a model that came out of it for my data about how we can support whatever policy intentions the governance level directs.

“And I’m mindful of that because students come through the lower system in Papua New Guinea, primary system to the secondary system and they come to the university.”