Presbyterian Church to have university starting in 2016

The Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu (PCV) plans to have a university operating in 2016.

That is one of the decisions of the Annual General Assembly of the church last year.

And it stemmed from one of the mandates of the new PCV Clerk, Pastor Allan Nafuki.

Speaking to the Daily Post, Pastor Nafuki, said when he was elected the new PCV Clerk at the 2014 General Assembly on Paama, he announced to the Church his mandates or things he wanted to see carried out during his term in office.

“The first one is mission. We must continue to train pastors, continue to send missionaries overseas, continue to send pastors of presbyteries and mission workers to Santo bush, Tanna and other places in Vanuatu that need missionaries,” the new PCV Clerk said.

“Secondly, I told the church that the Presbyterian Church education must improve to a higher level. And the Assembly has asked us to work towards building a Presbyterian Church university. In our planning now, is for the first time in its history, the Presbyterian Church is to have a university starting to operate in 2016,” he added.

Pastor Nafuki did not identify where the university would be located, but Onesua at north Efate is currently called Presbyterian College. It was upgraded to college level following its upgrade after the Church repossessed management and responsibility for the institution from the Government in mid-2000. Onesua was once the highest education institution run by the Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu before they took over running of all church schools after they were experiencing financial as well as management challenges at that time.

Since the return of Onesia, the Church has also taken back seven secondary and primary schools, including Lenakel Secondary and Primary School on Tanna, Nabangasale Secondary and Primary School on Tongoa, Epi Secondary and Primary School, Vaum Secondary and Primary School on Paama, Southwest Bay Secondary and Primary School on Malekula, Tata School on Santo, a school on Malo and one on Lamen Island, Epi.

“We plan to use the expertise of our people who are now working with the Government and our churches to help us with the running of the schools.”

Thirdly, Pastor Nafuki said his mandate is to see the Church repossess responsibility of the PCV’s former health facilities. The Church is currently talking with the Government to take back health facilities that the church used to look after before.

The facilities include Lenakel Hospital on Tanna, Vaimali Health Center on Epi, Silimaori Health Center on Tongoa, Liro Clinic on Paama, and Southwest Bay Clinic on Malekula. The Church also plans to rebuild the hospital on Ambrym that was burned down in 1913.

“We have signed an agreement with Government for return of these health facilities. As for Vila Central Hospital, the Presbyterian Church’s hospital based originally at Iririki Island in Port Vila harbor, we have agreed with the Government for it to be a referral hospital and church will work together with government for its services to continue as they are,” Pastor Nafuki added.

Fourthly, the new PCV Clerk wants a new office building for the Church’s main headquarters in Port Vila erected during his tenure. On Wednesday, a ground-breaking ceremony for a new storey office complex will be conducted in front of Chief Mantoi Kalsakau III of Ifira, the new Clerk said.