Page 10 - IB May 2025

Education

WHEN LESS IS MORE

UNIVERSITY SHIFTS LEARNING FOCUS

By Staff Reporters “The more one knows, the more one
must delve deeper into restraint to control
With eyes fixed on the past, the the ego.
region’s newest university is intent on “The reason for restraint is that what
changing the people of Pasifika. inspires us to do the greatest good, also
At is inaugural graduation, the Pasifika inspires us to do the greatest evil.”
Communities University (PCU) saw 168 Vaai described restraint as the wisdom
students receive certificates, diplomas, to pause, to slow down, to silence.
postgraduate qualifications, masters “God created us within the structure of
degrees, and doctorates. mutual contradiction,” he said.
But while this tiny institution is the “That is, we are meant to know both
newest tertiary educator in the region, how to speak and how to be silent, how
its predecessor—the Pacific Theological to work and how to cease, how to expand
College—predates the University of the and how to contract, how to live and how
South Pacific by three years. to die.
The PCU has decided that it will take “This is the ‘Whole of Life’ vision. In
small steps. PIFS Deputy Secretary General, Esala Nayasi, at the today’s fast-paced world, with the erosion
PCU launch.
“We don’t need to be a rich university of values, we are taught to talk everytime,
to make an impac; we just need to take one step at a time, to expand constantly, to develop continuously. We no longer
focusing on good governance and leadership,” the Manu have the wisdom to be in silence, to listen, to contract, to
Folau, Reverend Dr Upolu Vaai, told graduands. slow down. Our fast-paced culture continues to feed the
Manu Folau is what other universities call the Vice engine of the ego. The crisis today is not so much the lack of
Chancellor. creativity, but rather the lack of the wisdom of restraint to
At the PCU, students are toloa; institutes are bilum - terms control the fire of the ego that comes with creativity.
taken from the many languages of the region. Silence is not the opposite of knowledge. Rather, silence is
The institution has been mandated by church leaders to the womb in which knowledge is birthed. Silence is divine. It
take a unique approach to education and break the Western is in the life of God. You will find that love is more authentic
mould used since the arrival of the first settler schools. in moments of restraint than in moments of creativity.
“The uniqueness of this university is its Whole of Life vision Restraint is a product of age. Everything, from forgiveness,
and its commitment to our Pasifika ways of being and knowing righteousness, salvation, patience, are all connected to
expressed in our philosophies, ethics, and values,” Vaai said. restraint. None of these work unless we have the ability to
That means oral history and philosophy, often given little control our ego.”
recognition or credibility in academia, will receive greater The PCU sets forth on its second year with 160 students on
recognition. a journey of discovery and rediscovery.
Tuvalu student historian, Reverend Ulafale Vaitusi said In the words of one student, this will be as much about
acceptance of oral history was an integral part of Pasifika learning for the future as it is about unlearning some of the
learning and identity. past.
“We appreciate the work done by the missionaries to record
our history,” Vaitusi said. TIME FOR RESTRAINT
“But we must ask - did they capture our stories correctly?
What stories did they not tell? Can our history be written from
our perspective?” When you have nothing, mind your wishes
These questions are at the core of the PCU approach to When you something, mind your desires
learning. When you have everything, mind your pride
An equally important focus of the university is restraint. When you have knowledge, mind your ideas
Vaai warned the graduates about being egoistic and proud, When you have power, mind your ego
pointing them to the wisdom of Pacific elders. When you have words, mind your tongue
“While we claim to have knowledge through achieving a And when you have the opportunity, mind
degree or certificate that you deserve, I want to invite you to your approach
the idea that knowledge is paradox,” Vaai said.

10 Islands Business, May 2025