PNG students paying teachers
Students of a primary school in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea are paying their teachers their salaries every fortnight since the commencement of the school year. Each week, the 2800 students contribute K1 (US$0.26) to
Education
USP Council reappoints Ahluwalia
The University of the South Pacific Council has reappointed Professor Pal Ahluwalia as Vice-Chancellor and President. A meeting of the Council made the decision today. It was chaired by the Acting Pro-Chancellor and
Chinese scientists point to indigenous knowledge
A group of marine scientists from China have used a high-level forum in Fiji to highlight years of research undertakings in the Pacific and to warn of the urgent need to take climate action, pointing to the value of
USP graduates share their aspirations
Years of hard work came to fruition last week after more than 1000 students received their certificates at the University of the South Pacific graduation ceremony in Suva, with 65% of them women. “As you step out of
University of the South Pacific leans into AI
While many universities are discouraging the use of ChatGPT, the new AI tool, others are leaning into its use and offering courses dedicated solely to navigating the new technology. Professor Maurizio Cirrincione, Head
AI and the Pacific
Beyond the hype Meet Joe, Vodafone Fiji's champion customer service officer. Joe is a chatbot, powered by Artificial Intelligence, a 24/7 assistant that was first launched by the company in 2019. Joe has been hard
Fiji Budget Debate: TELs change ‘selling out’ students
Fiji opposition parliamentarian, Parveen Bala says the government’s new scholarship system is “selling out of the principle of equal access to higher education, just to keep a badly thought-out election
UPNG officers suspended, Interim Council probing cash for grades claims
Two officers of the University of PNG’s information and communication technology department have been suspended while investigation into cash-for-grades allegations are conducted, according to chancellor Robert Igara.
Pacific labour mobility: Weaving Fiji-Marshallese links
After six years in the Marshall Islands, Fijian Verenaisi Bavadra says, “I feel to have contributed to the development of education in the Marshall Islands in my own little field.” The Library Director at College of
Fiji Budget 2023-2024: A wrap
Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Biman Prasad, today presented a deficit budget in Fiji’s parliament. With a projected revenue of $3.7 billion, and expenditure of $4.3 billion, the
Fiji Budget: ‘It’s a tough but fair budget’ says Finance Minister
Presenting government’s Fiji Budget 2023-2024 to parliament this morning, Finance Minister Biman Prasad said the fiscal deficit of $639 million dollars was “higher than I personally wanted.” Prasad said
Fiji budget: Education, health get budget boosts
The Fiji government budget 2023-2024 presented today has prioritised spending on education and health. Education The education sector has been allocated $768.9 million with $505.4 million to the Ministry of
SINU suspends five staff members amid allegations of fraud
Vice Chancellor of the Solomon Islands National University (SINU), Professor Transform Aqorau, has taken decisive action in response to allegations of fraud activities involving printing by Wakaman Inc. He suspended
Professor Aqorau inspired by the level of support for SINU
Solomon Islands National University (SINU) Vice Chancellor’s Professor Transform Aqorau is pleased with the level of ongoing support for the University. He made the statement when making his first speech as the new
USP graduation exemplifies excellence
Regional students share their experiences Over 1,786 tertiary students received their accreditation at the University of the South Pacific’s (USP) first graduation ceremony for 2023, with 61% of those graduating being
Guam racing against time to use federal funds that will expire next year
The clock is ticking on the Guam Department of Education to expend a federal grant that will expire in September next year, but the local government has yet to begin the procurement process for the projects for which
Conference of Pacific Education Ministers aims to strengthen regionalism among PICs Education sectors
The University of the South Pacific’s (USP) Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Pal Ahluwalia, is counting on Pacific Island Countries (PICs) education ministers and leaders to focus attention on providing
PILNA identifies room for improvement
Pacific Island teachers are satisfied and proud of their work, but many of them have high stress levels. This is one of the newly-released findings of the Pacific Islands Literacy and Numeracy Assessment (PILNA) for
Calls for USP to return to glory days
Fiji Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Economy, Professor Biman Prasad, says he expects the University of the South Pacific to exercise its academic freedom and role as a regional leader now that relations have
700 apply to be PNG teachers
Job scarcity has seen over 700 degree holders from other universities applying to the University of Goroka to become Papua New Guinea teachers so that they can have a permanent job, Vice Chancellor Dr Teng Waninga said.
Helping improve the educational achievement of Pacific students in accounting
As the head of department for accounting at Auckland University of Technology (AUT), Associate Professor Anil Narayan is proud of the achievements he has had in his academic career so far, including many internal and
Emerging leaders take concerns to Canberra
Ongoing issues of overpopulation, economic inequality, domestic violence, climate change, geopolitics, illiteracy, and many health challenges are worrying to many Pacific Islanders. For young emerging leaders from the
Pacific’s largest literacy and numeracy assessment identifies room for further improvement
It has been a busy cycle for those involved in the 2021 Pacific Islands Literacy and Numeracy Assessment (PILNA) administration work. In spite of the drastic impacts brought forward by the COVID-19 pandemic and adverse