Vanuatu - Education



The overall literacy rate is low (64% of the population), but literacy is relatively widespread among persons under 35 years of age. Primary education is available for almost all children except in a few remote tribal areas. Education is provided in either English or French. In 1992, there were 272 primary schools with 852 teachers and 26,267 students. Student-to-teacher ratio stood at 31 to 1. General secondary schools had 220 teachers and 4,269 students in the same year. There were also 124 students in teacher training schools and 444 in vocational schools. The pupil-teacher ratio at the primary level was 24 to 1 in 1999. In the same year, 96% of primary-school-age children were enrolled in school, while 23% of those eligible attended secondary school.

Full secondary education is provided by the anglophone Malapoa College and the French Lycée at Port-Vila; limited secondary education is also available in five English post-primary schools and three French mission schools. For post-secondary education, especially medical and technical training, selected students go principally to Fiji, Australia, and New Zealand.

Government expenditure on education in 1995 amounted to 20% of the central government budget. As of 1999, public expenditure on education was estimated at 8.7% of GDP.

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User Contributions:

Cost of Education in Vanuatu is expensive for those without access to the "public" schools. I am working with a charity that hopes to be able to provide access to schools in remote areas of Vanuatu Islands. The children are hungry for education/knowledge and its such a shame that a very high percentage cannot access it.
Does anyone know number though? How much doe sit cost for say a child of Tanna in a rural village to attend a primary school and then secondary school.
I would like to comment on the educational system of Vanuatu. The education system of Vanuatu is set up in a manner that does not provide the necessity to a student to go through life. It only abuses the student’s way of thinking to go for office jobs. What I’m trying to say is too much of theory and no practical. Compare our system of education and other countries systems of education, they education system is more advance in life, for example a grade five student in Japan is taught in practicalthe basic idea of building a toy car, all along if the student is drop out of school, He can uses the skills he acquired to start something for living. Compare to a drop out student of Vanuatu, he/she would become an SPR (Sperem Public Road) for they whole life time.
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Lindsay Reid
I can answer this. My wife and I just returned from Vanuatu and I asked this question to a villager whilst staying on Tanna Island. The cost for education is $240.00 aus dollars per child per year. Hope this helps!
to answer Danny O'connell question. the cost of education for primary schools in the rural areas is low. 4000 vatu in one year for class 1-6 in rural areas compared to urban areas almost or over 10,000 vatu. this is due to better facilities in urban areas. begining last year free education was introduced in vanuatu, and parents who have children attending class 1-6 are lucky to spend less. to me education in vanuatu is not expensive
6
Cat
My Hubby and I just returned from our honeymoon in Vanuatu, I work as a librarian and was keen to see the educational opportunities for children K-6 in Vanuatu. In the cities it is certainly better because students have the availability of public school systems. What concerned us in the border towns and country areas was not the availability, but the quality. We visited a village and asked what game the children were playing under the tree and were told they are in school. On closer inspection we found that indeed the kids were sitting under a tree in the dirt listening to their teacher. The kids were so good and well behaved, but the situation made us a bit sad, we asked why they had no pencils or paper and were informed that it couldn't be afforded. That afternoon we made a decision, we foregoed a tour that we were planning to do and instead took the money to the supermarket and bought exercise books and pens, pencils and coloured pencils and took it back to the village the next morning - it was the best part of our honeymoon!
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Kris
Hello,

my name is Kris, I´m from Germany and writing a report for University bout the schoolsystem in Vanuatu. I was searching the whole net and read all Books I could find, but I could not find anything about the things the pupils learn at school. What classes do the pupils have at what year, for example. Could someone please help, if you got any information?
Thanks a lot.
Regards Kris
8
charlie
Hi does anyone know the school hours that they do and the classes they attend
thanks,
charlie
9
Huia
Hi there,
I have recently visited Vanuatu at the beginning of the year and was told by the locals that schooling is not compulsory here. Most children did not attend school due to the costs being expensive. Can anyone tell me about the ECE system in Vanuatu, i did get to stop and observe a Centre there however did not go inside or speak to anyone about it. very interested in this topic.

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