Last November the principal of Teacher’s Training College and President of the Pacific Teachers of Educators Teremoana Maua Hodges attended a regional workshop on “Attracting, Developing and Retaining Effective and Efficient Teachers and Principals” in Fiji.

Find outlined below her report on issues discussed, topics covered and outcomes of this workshop:

Last month, Research Analyst, Anaseini Pokino attended a regional workshop on Information Management for Emergencies in the Pacific. Find outlined below a report on the outcomes of the workshop.

Background:

The regional workshop on Information Management for Emergencies in the Pacific was held in Fiji, co-funded by United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nation’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) and the United Nation Development Programme.

The four days workshop saw presentation on information management from representatives in the regional countries present overview on the status of their emergency plans, the different role each government, non government and civil parties played and particularly with the availability of information, accessibility and what channels of information sharing and gathering exists to support effective decision making and formulating policies for the three phases of a disaster management cycle, i.e. before, during and after.

The objective of the workshop was to provide an opportunity for a regional information exchange and good practices among countries information management for and in emergencies.

Secondly to identify existing gaps within information management and address potentials to establish a more standardized approach to disaster needs and damage assessments pending on country requirements.

In November, the Statistics Officer, Lualua Tua attended the Education for All Mid-Decade Assessment Capacity Building Workshop in Fiji on Data Analysis and Production
Find outlined below his report.

Introduction:

In November 2005, the regional countries first held its meeting to discuss the Asia and Pacific Education for All (EFA) Mid-Decade Assessment (MDA), a nationally driven process focusing on identifying progress and gaps towards the achievement of Education for All (EFA).

Three years on, UNESCO in partnership with UNICEF has continued to support both the implementation of the EFA national action plan and the MDA process. One means of support is the development, dissemination and training on data collection, presentation and analysis.

Last Month Emergency Management Cook Islands (EMCI) held a mini workshop for Principals in Rarotonga to discuss their concerns with regards to Disaster/Emergency Plans for schools. We have been able to notify those issues with regards to awareness programmes for schools, the feasibility of introducing specific disaster/emergency subjects within the schools from the viewpoint of principals and issues arising from use of school buildings as evacuation/safety centres.

In a meeting with our Minister of Education Hon Jim Marurai last Monday 22 October 2007, I continued to express my deep concern at the manner in which COLA had been administered. It is unfortunate that the whole process from the start had not been articulated very clearly, because if it had been, then it would most certainly have saved much precious time.Meanwhile, most teachers by now would have read via media outlets of the decision by government, through the Financial Secretary Mr Sholan Ivaiti to apply a 4% Cost of living Adjustment (COLA) across the board on 14 November, to those teachers and public servants in ministries which have not already received payment. At this point in time, I would like to tender my apology for the prolonged delay in the application of this salary adjustment, as well as to commend all teachers and staff in the Ministry for their patience. I sincerely hope that a more effective process will be put in place to ensure that adjustments in future are managed more effectively and efficiently.

Kia orana. Kua irinaki au e, kua tau marie te tuatau kia tuku atu au i tetai karere kia tatou te Are Kau Taunga Puapii, no runga i te Moni kia tutakiia no tei kake te moni oko pakau no te oraanga. (COLA) Ko te mea maata, kia akakoromaki mai tatou, no teia tei tupu. I taku i akara matatio, kua tu kaui te akatupu i tei manako kia raveia no tei tapeka ia e rua nga akakoroanga mamaata; koia te Moni kia tutakiia no tei kake te moni oko pakau (COLA) pera te akatanotano anga te moni tutaki ki te turanga o te ngai angaanga. (Job-Sizing) I teia nei, kua tuku ia mai te akaueanga a te Ruru Minita, na roto i te Upoko Akatere Maata o te Mou Moni, kia tutakiia i te ra 14 Noema te au taunga puapii e te au tavini iti tangata katoatoa, e 4 petene (4%) moni akakake.Te oronga atu nei au, i toku reo akameitaki ia kotou te Kau Taunga Puapii katoatoa, kotou tei akakoromaki no tetai tuatau roa. I roto i te iririkapuaanga i topa ake nei, a te au Taunga Puapii Maata ote au Apii o Rarotonga, kua oronga katoa ana au i tetai akamaramaanga. Ka irinaki atu tatou e, ka matutu mai teia tuanga o te akatere moni tutaki, no te tuatau ki mua.

Workshop for Graduate Diploma of Teaching

A workshop attended by 16 Principals and senior teachers was held at the CITI office Nikao from 15-19 October. The course was tutored by John McCaffery, a senior lecturer from the School of Languages at the University of Auckland. This course is 1 of 7 courses required to successfully complete a Graduate Diploma in Teaching. The course EDPROFST 226 Introduction to Bilingual Education in the Cook Islands was well received by the participants. As well as conducting this intensive course over 5 days, lecturer John McCaffery presented a Public Lecture at the USP Campus on Wednesday evening 7.00-8.30pm. About 20 people attended the presentation which saw some interesting and lively exchange of different views. The lecture was co-hosted by the Ministry of Education and the USP Campus.

Arorangi School held a gala day at the end of last term. This saw people queuing up to order plates of B.B.Q and Umu food showing full support of the event. Included in the various activities organised for that day were crab races. The school was able to raise more than $14,000. These funds will be used for getting new library books and teaching resources.