Overseas Tertiary and School Groups Intending to visit

In view of the marked increase in the number of overseas tertiary, secondary and primary educational/cultural groups visiting the Cook Islands during the last 2 years, the Ministry of Education Cook Islands have now established a policy to manage more effectively the Overseas Participation Program.  This has been done to ensure that such visits will bring about benefits to both staff and students in Cook Islands schools as well as those in visiting overseas groups.  With only 3 Colleges and 10 Primary schools on Rarotonga, and a total of 3,000 students, it is important to minimise the disruption to on-going educational requirements.

DAQA Notices

Shared Teaching Experience

Please refer to circular dated 22nd October sent to all schools regarding a proposed professional development called “Shared Teaching Experience” planned to commence in 2009. Expressions of Interest close with Director DAQA on 1st December. Returns received from teachers by this date will determine the extent to which the scheme may be introduced in 2009.

The planned schedule of school audit visits for Term 1 2009 is as follows

2008 Maths Quiz Competition

On Thursday, November 13th at 5:pm the National Auditorium will be a hive of activity; buzzing with the brainpower of students from all over Rarotonga, from Grades 6 through to Form 4 (Year 10).

The students will be representing their schools and they will be focused. Focused on solving mathematical problems, racing the clock to beat their opponents and outscoring their opponents in accuracy, signaling that the 2008 Math Quiz is on again.

School Audit Schedule for Term 4.

Audit visits for Term 4 have been rescheduled as follows:
Week 2   

• Anna Katoa    Rutaki School
• Tere Utanga     Nukutere College

Week 5   

• Anna Katoa    Takitumu School

School libraries upgrade

Northland, New Zealand’s National Library manager Diane Hosler and Alice Heather Library Advisor are currently in Rarotonga to assist in implementing phase two of the Ministry of Education’s “School Libraries Upgrade” project.

The completion of phase one of the project saw the lead literacy teachers in each school, the literacy advisors and Audit officers develop their professional knowledge of the ‘Information Landscape” and in particular, ‘The Six Guiding Principles”.

These principles together, provide a flexible framework to guide schools in developing and improving their libraries.

Suicide prevention and mental health awareness for youth

Mental illness can affect anyone at any time. Stress is one of the major contributors to mental illness along with trauma and head injury from accidents, grief and drug use.

It is said that one in four people will be affected by mental illness at some point in their life.

Young people are at greatest risk as they journey the bumpy road of teenage years. For most, this will be a temporary lapse of total well-being, however, for others the effects could be permanent.

Healthy foods, healthy bodies and minds

Rutaki ECE centre runs a successful healthy foods initiative which they call “Brain Food”.

The initiative came about because staff saw the need to address some issues that were arising in the centre. Many children appeared tired and had low energy levels throughout the morning.

The staff also found that a significant number of children were bringing unhealthy food products to school for their lunch; food that was expensive, highly processed, full of sugar and preservatives.

Having heard about healthy food programs in New Zealand Early Childhood Centers for feeding the brain, and the correlation between healthy foods and increased energy levels, they decided to look into it. This resulted in their healthy eating program which has gone from strength to strength.

The main objective of their brain food program has been to increase the children’s health by encouraging children to eat a variety of healthy, locally grown, fresh foods.

At 9 am every morning the children are seated and offered platters of locally grown fruits and vegetables.

Information and Communication Technology Policy Development

School Comitee Capacity Building

UNESCO's Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) 'Best Practices' Project

• Araura College (Aitutaki Island)
• Enuamanu School (Enuamanu Island)
• Nikao Maori School (Rarotonga Island)
• Nukutere School (Rarotonga Island)
• St. Joseph School (Rarotonga Island)
• Apii Te Uki Ou (Rarotonga Island)
• Tematangarengare School (Mitiaro Island)
• Avarua School (Rarotonga Island)
• Rutaki School (Rarotonga Island)
• Akaariarianga Na Te Pupu (Mauke)
• Uipaanga ElAkamarama (Mauke)

Congratulations Repeta!!

Congratulations to Repeta Puna a fomer employee of the MInistry of Education who has just completed her thesis on "The effects of the Cook Islands public sector reform on the delivery of education". The thesis has been published on the ScholarlyCommons@AUT website. We have here links to the download to her thesis and an extract from her thesis (see read more).

Front Matter - PunaR_a.pdf

Thesis - PunaR.pdf

Ministry of Education

School Stationery and Consumables Tender Notice

Tenders are invited for the bulk supply of School Stationery and Consumables for the 2009 school year. Stationery and Consumables quality and specifications can be uplifted from the Ministry of Education office or contact Anthony Turua of Finance & Support Division on phone 29357, fax 28357 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Tender submission will close @ 4.00pm Friday 10th October 2008.

Tenders shall be in a sealed envelope

MOE Stationery and Consumables Tender 2009

Secretary of Education,

Ministry of Education, PO Box 97

Rarotonga, Cook Islands

Download tender document

Download Bulk Stationary