Fiji reaches out to UNESCO for educational support

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Ministry of Education permanent secretary Alison Burchell and Fiji’s Ambassador to Brussels Deo Saran. Picture: SUPPLIED/FIJI GOVERNMENT

FIJI has reached out to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for support in implementing its curriculum development for schools across the country.

Ministry of Education, Heritage and Arts’ permanent secretary Alison Burchell made this call at the Policy Debate of UNESCO’s 40th General Conference underway in Paris, France.

Ms Burchell presented the challenges facing Fiji’s education sector during the debate, in particular the impact of climate change.

She also highlighted the direct impact it had on Fijian children and their ability to have access to education in the face of rising sea levels, community relocations, and cyclones.

Despite those challenges, she said the ministry was using education to create awareness among children with the assistance of UN agencies.

“Mr President, throughout all this, we have also worked to educate our young people on climate change. We have developed a disaster risk reduction manual for schools with support from UNICEF and UNDP,” Ms Burchell said.

“Our young people have said – ‘we can see climate change, we can feel it but we do not know what to do about it’, and this is part of our answer to them. We are happy to share this resource with other SIDs,” she added.

Fiji will address the four pillars of education – literacy, numeracy, physical and digital literacy.

An area that Fiji is also looking to partner with UNESCO is the promotion of physical education, physical activity and sport to prevent future non-communicable diseases amongst young Fijians.

As the UNESCO General Conference continues this week, Ms Burchell is also expected to participate in high-level meetings and side events.

She is supported at this event by Fiji’s Ambassador in Brussels and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO Ambassador Deo Saran.

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