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Advocating for increased and sustained public investment in education to strengthen the teaching profession and improve learning outcomes, the Vanuatu Teachers Union (VTU) has launched the Education International (EI) Go Public! Fund Education campaign nationwide. It emphasized the need for the government to invest in teachers through fair remuneration, quality professional development, and supportive working conditions.

Through this initiative, VTU acknowledged the critical role of public education as a public good and urged the Government of Vanuatu to prioritise education financing to address teachers’ shortages, workload pressures and resource gaps, particularly in rural and remote schools.

Setting up the Education Services Commission

VTU also highlighted that their campaign aligns with Recommendation 5 of the United Nations on the Teaching Profession: “Governments should establish national commissions or other mechanisms, which should include relevant financial authorities, representatives of teachers’ organizations and other relevant stakeholders, to assess and tackle shortages of adequately trained teachers. Such commissions or mechanisms should address labour market analyses, recruitment, teacher migration, attrition and retention, compensation, status and rights, workload and wellbeing, equity (including the ratio of qualified teachers to students), equality and infrastructure.”

In her remarks, Neselinda Meta, Secretary General of the Council of Pacific Education (COPE) and EI Asia-Pacific Regional Coordinator, insisted that the Education Services Commission is essential for:

1. Strengthening governance and accountability in our teaching sector.
2. Ensuring fairness in recruitment, appointments, and promotions.
3. Protecting and improving teachers’ rights, welfare, and working conditions.
4. Reducing political interference and ensuring decisions are made with professionalism and integrity.
5. Supporting quality education for all children of Vanuatu.

“This reform is not just structural; It is foundational to the future of our nation,” she said. Addressing the teachers across Vanuatu, she also explained that “the Education Services Commission is about empowering you, protecting your rights, and ensuring your career is guided by merit, fairness, and transparency.”

Joining EI Go Public! Fund Education campaign

The launch in Vanuatu marked an important step in linking national education advocacy with global commitments to transform the teaching profession and strengthen public education systems.

With the presence of key leaders from the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET), the Teaching Service Commission (TSC), the Council of Pacific Education (COPE) - a sub-branch of Education International's (EI) Asia-Pacific region - and other educational stakeholders, VTU officially launched the campaign on January 30th, 2026, on the Island of Santo.

Mrs. Meta stated that Go Public! is a global movement calling on governments worldwide to recognise that funding public education is urgent and must be a priority. “Across the world, public schools are under pressure from chronic underfunding, teacher shortages, and increasing inequality. EI’s call urges governments to shift their priorities - from cost cutting to nation building, and from temporary fixes to long term investments in teachers, students, and communities. This campaign reinforces a simple truth: quality public education is not a privilege; it is a human right that must be protected, strengthened, and properly funded.”

At the regional level, the Pacific stands at a critical moment, she also reported. “With the global teacher shortage becoming one of the most urgent crises of our time, Go Public! Fund Education led by Education International and the Council of Pacific Education provides a bold and strategic response. This multi-year programme strengthens the capacity of unions across Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu, aligning with the UN recommendations and Sustainable Development Goals. It positions teachers not only as educators but as nation builders, climate leaders, and champions for justice, while reinforcing the need for resilient, inclusive, and well-resourced public schools.”

She added that this campaign resonates powerfully with Vanuatu’s own national realities. “When EI calls on governments to Go Public! Fund Education, it reflects the lived experiences of our teachers - overcrowded classrooms, limited resources, delayed appointments, and the ongoing struggle for fairness and respect. Our participation in the Pacific movement - including the 2025 regional gathering in Nadi - strengthens our advocacy and gives us international backing as we push for systemic reform, including the establishment of a fully functional Education Services Commission. Through this campaign, Vanuatu joins millions of teachers worldwide in affirming that every child deserves a qualified teacher - and every teacher deserves respect, support, and recognition.”

A Call for the Unity of Educational Stakeholders

The COPE General Secretary went on emphasizing that “progress requires unity. No single institution can drive education reform alone. We must stand together - VTU, COPE, MoET, TSC, the PM’s Office, school leaders, and communities. When we speak with one national voice, we can achieve lasting reform. Let today be a reminder that we share a common vision: A stronger, fairer, and more professional education system for Vanuatu.”

The COPE leader concluded: “Today’s launch marks the beginning of a new chapter in our nation’s educational journey - a chapter of hope, transformation, and empowerment. Let us move forward with determination. Let us support our teachers. Let us work together to make the Education Services Commission a reality.”