The Ministry of Education and Training (MoET), with the support of the European Union (EU) and UNICEF, has launched a major initiative to strengthen resilience in schools across Vanuatu. The Climate Resilient Sheltering Schools Programme will directly benefit over 2,500 children and 900 staff, while also serving as safe shelters for more than 130,000 community members.
From a press release it states that a high-level EU delegation visited Lalzadeth School on Pentecost yesterday, joined by the Minister of Education and Training, Hon. Simil Johnson Youse, EU Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Sikela, and the EU Ambassador to the Pacific, H.E. Barbara Plinkert. They met with students, teachers, and communities who will directly benefit from the programme.
Vanuatu is among the most climate-vulnerable nations in the world. Currently, 89 percent of schools are exposed to drought, more than a third face recurrent flooding, and nearly half of primary classrooms do not meet basic safety standards. Each cyclone, flood, or earthquake disrupts learning and puts children’s futures at risk.
Backed by an investment of €10 million (VUV 1.39 billion) from the EU, the programme will upgrade 10 schools and early childhood centres, equipping them with solar energy, internet connectivity, and inclusive WASH facilities. An additional 15 high-risk schools will receive critical repairs and preventive maintenance.
Minister Youse thanked the EU and UNICEF for their partnership, noting that the programme will protect schools, support teachers, and safeguard children’s right to education while also providing resilience and shelter for whole communities. UNICEF Pacific’s Vanuatu Chief of Field Office, Eric Durpaire, highlighted that resilience in education is not optional but a lifeline in the face of climate change.
The programme also includes disaster preparedness and climate literacy training for students, teachers, and communities, embedding resilience into national education policies.
European Union Commissioner Jozef Sikela said the programme is part of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, which invests in sustainable development through resilient infrastructure and quality education.
By combining modern engineering, indigenous knowledge, and community engagement, the Climate Resilient Sheltering Schools Programme represents a long-term investment in the future of Vanuatu’s children — building schools that can stand strong against storms while serving as havens of safety and learning.
Photos Supplied.
