Education
Every child has the right to go to school and learn.
The challenge
UNICEF believes that every child has the right to an education regardless of who they are, where they live or how much money their family has. While enrolment in basic education is relatively high in the Pacific, and most countries are on track to achieve universal primary education, significant challenges remain.
Performance on basic literacy and numeracy in Grades 4 and 6 points to considerable barriers to learning for children in the Pacific.
Challenges include:
- Low access to quality early childhood education;
- Equity gaps that prevent children with disabilities, those on outer islands, out-of-school children, and other vulnerable populations from accessing and benefitting fully from schooling;
- Limited parent and community engagement; and
- Limited availability and use of data to inform improvements to the education system.
The solution
In partnership with the governments and civil society organisations, UNICEF aims to have more pre-primary, primary and lower secondary school aged children, particularly the most vulnerable, in school and learning.
Education transforms lives and breaks the cycle of poverty that traps so many children.
UNICEF is committed to making sure every child has access to a quality education, no matter who or where they are.
We work with governments and partners throughout the region to help make sure education reaches the most vulnerable, that systems work effectively for children, and that no child is left behind.
Across the Pacific, we are working towards:
- Having more young children have access to quality early learning opportunities;
- Building capacities of education stakeholders to identify and respond to learning needs of children not attending school and/or are at risk of dropping out;
- Building capacity of the education system to strengthen resilience and prepare children as well as school communities to respond to emergencies and disasters; and
- Strengthening national level legal systems and policies for delivery of quality and inclusive education services for all children.