The Vanuatu Teachers Union (VTU) is urging the government to conduct deeper consultations with teachers before making changes to legislation that directly affects their profession.

Secretary General of VTU, Johnathan Yonah, raised concerns following the recent passing of amendments to the Teaching Service Act in Parliament last month. He believes the government moved too quickly and without sufficient dialogue with educators.

“We are calling for more transparent consultation so that teachers clearly understand how these amendments will benefit them and their work,” SG Yonah told VBTC News.

Responding to the concerns, Director General of the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET), Bergmans Iati, said the current Act already provides a framework to address teacher welfare and operational efficiency.

“The amendments are meant to strengthen oversight between the Ministry and the Teaching Service Commission (TSC),” DG Iati explained. “This ensures that the activities of the Commission align with national education goals and are monitored effectively.”

He added that while the current amendment is a first step, more legislative reviews are on the way. These include planned updates to the Education Act, the Vanuatu Qualifications Authority (VQA) framework, and the National University Act—all aimed at enhancing governance within the education sector.

DG Iati reassured that the reforms are designed to improve the delivery of education services and empower the Teaching Service Commission to function more efficiently for the benefit of teachers across the country.