BY IRWIN ANGIKI
The Language Matters in the Pacific seminar series continues today (Wednesday, Sept 4, 3pm Solomon time) with focus on how the mainstream education plays a role.
Among the panellists is Solomon Islands’ former Minister of Education Lanelle Tanangada, hailed for successfully passing the historic Education Bill 2023.
The series is hosted by the University of the South Pacific’s (USP) Linguistics department of the School of Pacific Arts, Communication and Education (SPACE).
The series is so far being hailed a huge success in bringing Pacific languages into the conversation, with the inaugural seminar on August 7 focusing on media and its role in usage, promotion and preservation of language throughout the region.
Today’s seminar expands on a priority outcome of the 2023 meeting of the Council of Pacific Education Ministers, which is that ‘indigenous knowledge, culture and language should be embedded in curriculum development, teacher training programmes and delivery’.
The panel is comprised of some of the region’s experienced educators and policymakers who will discuss what the 2023 priority outcome means in practice.
“We discuss the rationale for incorporating Pacific languages throughout the mainstream education system, focusing on both pedagogical benefits (children learn best when they understand what their teacher is saying and when they are able to participate actively in the classroom) and cultural benefits (education remains relevant when it fosters a deeper connection with culture, heritage and identity),” the seminar’s flyer statement said.
“We also discuss how to ensure that languages such as English and French are also learnt effectively, aiming to move the discussion beyond the perceived choice between local and international languages.”
Former Education Minister Lanelle Tanangada is looking forward to today’s seminar.
“I look forward as a panelist in tomorrow’s seminar to share on the importance of language use in the Solomon Islands and elevate the fact that ‘Language Matters in the Pacific’,” Mrs Tanangada speaking to the paper yesterday said.
“Focusing on the question ‘How do we embed Pacific Languages throughout mainstream education?’ it is of great importance for the Pacific region to add voices in a combined effort to support the 2023 CPEM outcome statement.
“Further to that it is high time that we have our younger generation have a deeper appreciation for their mother tongue, the language that speaks their identity.
“I also look forward to learning from other speakers in the Pacific region share their countries experience in how Pacific Languages are embedded throughout mainstream education.”
The illustrious all-female panel include:
Elaine Lameta – Director of Education, Tokelau
Lanelle Tanangada – Former Minister of Education, Solomon Islands
Helen Tamtam – Literacy Advisor, Curriculum Development Unit, Vanuatu
Ariteri Botibara – English Curriculum Officer, Curriculum Unit, Kiribati
Ainslie Chu Ling-So’o – Former Language Specialist for the Ministry of Education, Samoa
The zoom link is: https://usp-fj.zoom.us/j/89323389854?#success
Password: @FU#b4qEc
More details on how to access the seminar, including the zoom address and password are available in the ‘Language Matters in the Pacific’ facebook public group https://www.facebook.com/groups/153791638300698
