Prime Minister Jotham Napat has called for a major overhaul of Vanuatu’s education system, saying he is not satisfied with its current performance despite education receiving one of the Government’s biggest investments.

Opening the 2026 National Education and Training Forum today, Mr Napat challenged education leaders, government officials, teachers and stakeholders to use the three-day forum to reshape the future of education and ensure it prepares young people for both national and global opportunities.

He said education remains one of the Government’s largest budget priorities because of its importance to the country’s future.

“The question we must ask ourselves is whether our education system is preparing our young people for global opportunities. We also need to ask what has gone wrong over the past 45 years and how we can fix it.”

Focus on quality, access and jobs

The Prime Minister said the forum would focus on improving the quality of education, expanding access to learning, and ensuring education is relevant to the labour market.

He said Vanuatu needed an education system that connects formal education with vocational training so that every young person, including those who leave school early, has opportunities to build skills and find employment.

Mr Napat said many young people possess valuable practical skills, but the education system must create better pathways to develop those talents.

He also encouraged participants to review existing strategies and identify long-term reforms that would strengthen both formal and informal education.

Calls for a home-grown education system

Mr Napat said the forum presents an opportunity to develop a home-grown education system that reflects Vanuatu’s culture, priorities and development goals.

He said participants should examine whether the current education structure remains effective, including the country’s bilingual education system, while also strengthening indigenous knowledge within schools.

He said the Government wants to develop a long-term roadmap that supports education reform at every level.

Concerns over literacy and teacher performance

The Prime Minister said it was concerning that nearly 70 per cent of children still struggle with reading and writing, despite significant Government investment in education.

He said improving education requires commitment from everyone involved, particularly teachers and education leaders.

“Government is doing its part by investing in education, but teachers also need to perform. It has to be a win-win situation.”

Mr Napat also reminded senior government officials that reform must begin with leadership, urging directors-general and other public servants to lead by example through punctuality, professionalism and stronger performance.

He encouraged participants to speak openly during the forum if it would help improve the education system.

Looking towards Vanuatu’s future

Mr Napat said Vanuatu will celebrate its 50th Independence anniversary in four years, making this the right time to undertake meaningful education reforms.

He said a strong education system is essential for economic growth and national development because it produces the skilled workforce needed to build the country’s future.

The Prime Minister concluded by calling on everyone involved in education to work together to transform the sector for the benefit of future generations.

“Education is everyone’s business. Let’s work together to transform our education sector for the Vanuatu of tomorrow.”