Page 22 - IB February 2025

Education Education

ENVISIONING OCEAN LITERACY

ACROSS THE PACIFIC

By Ema Ganivatu where every year level has six units of inquiry. One of those
is focused on the ocean. Each class spends six to eight weeks
Students at the International School Suva (ISS) learn about focusing on the ocean, developing a deeper understanding
the ocean from the moment they step through the school with each passing year.”
gates. An ocean curriculum for all Pacific children
Under the leadership of the Whole School Ocean While the program is well established at the well-resourced
Coordinator Hannah Nanovu, the school is not just teaching private school, Nanovu has a passionate desire to see the
about the ocean but creating the ocean advocates of ocean curriculum grow beyond ISS.
tomorrow. “It’s a dream of mine to support and assist with
Nanovu has been instrumental in shaping the program’s implementing this program in other schools, not just in Fiji
vision and ensuring that students connect with the ocean on a but across the Pacific,” she shared with tears in her eyes.
deeper, personal level. “Islanders are already connected to the ocean in more ways
“I was really lucky to step into the role as Whole School than I ever have been. It’s part of who you are. But we need
Ocean Coordinator last year,” says Nanovu, reflecting on her to build up the knowledge of the human impact and how
first year leading the program. “At the same time, we were our actions, whether we’re in the highlands or on the coast,
allocated the space in the school, which we’ve called the affect the ocean.”
Ocean Learning Centre. We came up with a guiding statement She encourages education ministries to integrate ocean
to help grow our program even more.” literacy across the curriculum, in maths, literacy and
The mission of ISS’s Oceans Program is simple but profound, science “rather than it being a standalone topic to ensure its
to make students ocean literate so they can be effective relevance and accessibility in Pacific Island schools.”
advocates for the ocean. By integrating traditional knowledge Her passion for the cause is visceral. “This knowledge is
and scientific understanding, the program provides students something that will benefit every child in the Pacific, as they
with a holistic view of the ocean’s importance, helping them are the future policymakers and scientists.”
grasp local and global perspectives. This focus is even more One initiative towards this goal is the ‘Veivueti Ocean
critical given escalating ocean crises wrought by climate Conference’, which Nanovu helped establish last year. The
change and pollution. conference provides a platform for students to engage with
With the ocean in a fragile state, students must understand the United Nations Ocean Decade Challenges, research how
the human impact on marine environments. “Our program these challenges relate to Fiji, and take meaningful action.
is built around the Ocean Literacy Framework and the UN “We invited schools to participate and challenged them
Ocean Decade Challenges,” Nanovu explains. “It provides a to pick a UN Ocean Decade Challenge, research it, and then
structured approach to understanding and addressing marine take action in some form,” Nanovu recalls. “The students
issues. We strive to bring learning to life through field trips, presented their findings and actions during World Ocean Day
guest speakers, and hands-on experiences so that students can celebrations. It was a great way to plant the ocean literacy
foster a deep connection to the ocean.” seed within local schools, and we had a fantastic turnout.”
One key aspect of the program is ensuring that students The conference also featured expert-led workshops,
are competent and safe in the water. This includes various offering students the chance to learn from professionals in
water-based activities such as kayaking, paddleboarding, the field. “We had coral gardeners, NGOs like Ika Bula and
and snorkelling, which give students direct experience of the GIZ, and ocean experts who ran mini workshops. The students
ocean’s wonders. loved it, and we’re hosting it again this year.”
“It’s important that they experience that firsthand because, Nanovu believes every Pacific Island school should have an
through those activities, they develop a real appreciation for ocean curriculum “to make their students ocean literate and
nature and the ocean. With snorkelling especially, they get to help them understand what the ocean does for us. It’s not
see the animals and the reef. It helps them understand the just about the science; it’s about fostering a deep, lasting
ocean and all the life it supports. connection with the ocean. I believe it’s truly a right for every
“We built the program slowly year by year, making it child in the Pacific.”
bigger,” Nanovu explains. “It started in the primary school,

22 Islands Business, February 2025