ACTING PERMANENT SECRETARY OPENS WANSOLWARA TALANOA ON STRENGTHENING EDUCATION DATA SYSTEMS

ACTING PERMANENT SECRETARY OPENS WANSOLWARA TALANOA ON STRENGTHENING EDUCATION DATA SYSTEMS

The Acting Permanent Secretary for Education, Mr. Meli Nacuva, officially opened the Wansolwara Talanoa today at the Grand Pacific Hotel. The event brings together participants from Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu, as well as key partners such as the PacREF Facilitating Unit in USP, UNESCO, UNICEF, and SPC.

Mr. Nacuva shared that the topic of discussions is very close to his heart. He expressed his deep interest in improving data collection and analysis in the Pacific, believing that reliable data is key to making informed decisions and driving positive change in education.

The term Wansolwara, from Solomon Islands Pidgin, means “one salt water.” It represents the unity of the Pacific people-one ocean, one people. Mr. Nacuva emphasized that, just as the Pacific is united by the ocean, our data systems must be unified and connected to better serve our communities.

“The theme of this study tour, Strengthening Education Data Systems, is not only timely but also very personal to me,” said Mr. Nacuva. “Accurate and reliable data is essential for making decisions that lead to better educational outcomes for our children and communities in the Pacific.”

Mr. Nacuva also highlighted the power of talanoa, the Pacific way of dialogue, where everyone shares ideas, builds understanding, and works together to find solutions. He discussed the shared challenges faced by Pacific nations, such as geographic isolation, limited infrastructure, and the need for culturally appropriate data collection methods. He encouraged all attendees to collaborate, share experiences, and find solutions tailored to the Pacific context.

Mr. Nacuva stressed the importance of data governance and cybersecurity, urging the creation of systems that are efficient, secure, and trustworthy.

The four-day Talanoa sessions provide a valuable platform for exchanging ideas, learning from one another, and finding solutions to strengthen education data systems across the Pacific.