Sharing experiences across the Pacific
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 128 No 1, 17 February 2023, page no. 13
From the 31 October to 4 November 2022, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the Council of Pacific Education’s Women’s Conference and Triennial Conference. It was eye opening to yarn with women from teaching unions throughout the Pacific.
In discussions with sisters from island nations such as Vanuatu, Tuvalu, Samoa, and Kiribati, we identified shared issues of outreach with remote members, the restrictions of cost, transport, and reliability of internet, technology, and power. These issues are deeply felt in remote settings like the Torres Strait Islands. It is challenging to connect and support members with a sea between us. Like our comrades throughout the Pacific, in the Torres Strait Branch we rely on virtual meetings to connect. The need for access has also led our comrades in the Pacific to using boats, cars or even walking long distances to connect with their remote colleagues.
During the conference there was a presentation from the New Zealand Educational Institute explaining its strong action on putting “Māori first”. When making changes to policy, implementing decisions, and reviewing processes, they ask “How does this support Māori? What does this mean for Māori?” At the conclusion of their presentation the representative said: “I know, crazy stuff! Putting Indigenous people first? But why not?”
Our sisters in the Pacific are working towards securing minimum 50 per cent female representation, reducing class sizes (some primary and secondary schools have classes of 60+ children), reducing workload, addressing the teacher shortage, ensuring secure work for casual staff, providing appropriate pay and conditions for teachers, and so much more.