Minister Loughman launches Vanuatu Teachers' Standards

Current teachers and any person wishing to pursue a career in teaching are obliged to meet minimum standards to enable them into becoming teachers qualified to teach in schools in Vanuatu.

Collections of these standards have been compiled into a booklet called the Vanuatu Teachers Standard, which was officially launched yesterday by the Minister of Education and Training (MoET), Bob Loughman.

According to the Principal of Vanuatu Institution of Teachers Education (VITE), Jack Daniels Matariki, the Vanuatu Teachers Standards has been categorised into four main areas, of which 32 standards are identified.

The four main themes are; professional development, student learning, working in collaborations with communities and teachers are professionals.

In brief explanation, Matariki said the standards basically are to improve the students’ learning inside or outside their classrooms, for instance, what teachers should do to support a student’s learning. Teachers must possess the right skills, and or qualifications to qualify them as teachers. The standards also addresses teachers’ attitudes and how they should act like role models for their students as well as the communities. Teachers are also encouraged to interact freely with communities.

In his remarks, the Minister of Education and Training, Bob Loughman, congratulated all who have worked hard in a way or another towards the completion and production of the booklet.

“I will say that this booklet will act like a compass for teachers in enabling them to improve the quality of learning and teaching in Vanuatu. A lot of times teachers are blamed for not performing their role as expected but the ministry lacked a criteria of which we can adjust our teachers to accordingly.

“Now that the teachers’ standards is in place, it will provide justifications for educationalists, especially, heads of schools, PEOs, directors or even the minister to point fingers at our teachers when they fail to perform well,” he said.

He reminded all that at the end of the day, their priority is to improve the performance of the students for the better.

The Vanuatu Teachers’ Standards is written in bislama “to ensure that no one will make excuses that they do not understand what the standards are”, Director of education Service said.

Development Partners were thanked for continuously supporting the education sector for the betterment of the children of Vanuatu.

The recently launched Vanuatu Teachers Standards booklet is part of MoET’s strategic goal towards upgrading quality education in Vanuatu.

The successful completion of this booklet is the result of cooperation and hard work of people who have dedicated their time during a seven-months of survey, researches and consultations to over 560 people across Vanuatu, including teachers, students, parents, communities leaders and education leaders.