Page 23 - IB February 2025

Education

THE TIDE TURNS

FRESH APPROACH TO REGIONAL EDUCATION

By Netani Rika Reverend Professor Dr Upolu Luma Vaai.
“It is important that Pasifika education respects and
On a bush track in the interior of Fiji’s mani island, Viti celebrates ecumenical and cultural diversity, which is relevant
Levu, three weary colleagues trudge toward a village, barely to regional stability, and that is informed by life-affirming
visible through the mist. Pacific values and insights in an ever-changing environment.’’
The team from the Regional Institute for Leadership The PTC will continue to deliver courses at its Veiuto
Development is on a mission to change the way education is Campus in Suva, Fiji, and through an upgraded distance and
delivered in communities. This is the heart of community- flexible learning by extension component. But it will also
based education. deliver tailor-made classes at certificate and diploma level
In Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, and Kiribati, institutes into the community.
of the Pacific Theological College (PTC) have spent four Those classes will draw from indigenous knowledge of the
years perfecting teaching methodologies, training needs environment, philosophies on leadership, mentoring, and
assessments, research, and consultation. governance, as well as the more common mode of classroom
The evidence is clear. and textbook learning.
Pacific Island communities want to enter into learning Students will take a more critical view of established texts
experiences at credible and open to oral history
institutions but they also and knowledge as the PTC
have much to share to the moves to preserve the heart
existing body of knowledge of Pasifika consciousness.
in and about the region. “We seek to offer a
At the same time, there deeper, more holistic,
are opportunities for balance, inclusive,
universities—students and communities-based,
faculty members—to learn forward-looking, and
the ancient philosophies discourse-changing
and wisdom which educational scholarship
have guided indigenous Participants in a PTC philosophy course gather at a village in the interior of Fiji to discuss that offers an authentic
indigenous knowledge
communities for centuries, and visionary pathway to a
helping them preserve forests, fishing grounds, and navigation transformative and liberating vision of society,’’ Vaai said.
methods. “It also aims to offer a new development paradigm
Reverend Dr Tafue Lusama, a Tuvaluan, is head of the PTC’s informed by faith and indigenous knowledge to strengthen the
Institute for Climate Indigenous Knowledge and an advocate Pasifika region’s social, economic, and political security.’’
for the fight against climate change. He has spoken at several In time, the PTC will fulfil the necessary requirements to
international conferences about the threat of rising sea levels become a university. The process for transition to university
on low-lying island countries. has started with the necessary applications made to Fiji’s
“Traditional knowledge is often disregarded when it comes education authorities.
to conflict solutions and development in the Pacific,’’ Lusama Vaai says it is about coming down from the high horse of
said. privilege, taking a walk alongside the struggling communities
His statement is based on the blatant disregard global and looking at things from the perspective of those who
audiences have had for messages from people who live on struggle in the dirt.
the coal face of climate change. Even the World Council of The authors critically examine societal frameworks
Churches general assembly in Busan, South Korea, has done influenced by Western philosophical traditions, questioning
little to rally the support of its members to help Tuvalu. their relevance and purpose in contemporary Pasifika
This is despite Lusama’s impassioned plea on behalf of societies.
Tuvalu. Vaai emphasized the need to revitalise these philosophies
To counter the lack of attention from the global audience and theologies to promote sustainable development in
and acknowledging that Western-based education systems do communities.
not cater for the needs of Pasifika, the PTC has designed what He also stressed the importance of understanding household
it terms a whole-of-life learning experience. findings to ensure inclusive and effective policies.
“We want to provide for the Pacific churches and the
region, an integrated tertiary theological education for Netani Rika is a Masters in Theology student at the PTC,
leadership that is prophetic and justice-driven, missiological, currently writing his thesis in the area of Church History.
academic, and socially contextual,’’ said PTC Principal,

Islands Business, February 2025 23