Ongoing teacher shortages, disrespect for the profession and the impact of workload intensification were just some of the professional issues discussed at the Council of Pacific Education (COPE) conference held earlier this year, writes Katie Fotheringham.
COPE is a regional organisation of education unions based in the South Pacific, with delegates from the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Tonga, Vanuatu and Australia.
IEUA Assistant Federal Secretary Veronica Yewdall, IEU-QNT Branch Secretary Terry Burke and organiser Lee Cunningham (from the NSW/ACT Branch) attended the conference in Fiji in March to discuss quality education, social equity, and climate justice.
Common struggles
Affiliates shared their challenges in delivering quality education to students through presentations and group workshops.
“While there are differences in capacity and resourcing around the Pacific, the ongoing teacher shortage, disrespect for teachers as professionals and the impact of workload intensification on recruitment and retention of teachers were recurring themes,” Yewdall says.
“Delegates from around the Pacific consistently conveyed frustration with the inequities in education and expressed unequivocal support for 100 per cent funding of public schools, more equitable distribution of funds in the non-government education sector and the prioritisation of appropriate and timely funding for disability and equity cohorts.”
Panel discussions focused on equity and inclusion initiatives underway in different unions. There were also panel discussions on proposed or emerging government actions in the region “that are likely to impact members of the education community, either for better or worse,” Yewdall says.
Urgent action on climate needed
Reflection on the horrifying impact of climate change in the Pacific was a key focus of the conference, in particular the devastation currently playing out in the low-lying nations of Kiribati and Tuvalu.
“All affiliates recognised the need for urgent action to address issues of health and safety, displacement of families and communities, severance of connection to culture and place, and both the immediate and long-term impacts on education for teachers and students,” says Yewdall.
Conference participants worked in teams to write a resolution that will be delivered at the Education International (EI) Congress in Buenos Aires in July 2024.
“The COPE Conference resolution to EI focuses on meaningful action to protect the lives and livelihoods of those most impacted by climate change in the Pacific and guarantee stable and quality education for all students,” Yewdall says.
Recognising women’s achievementsThe conference attendees paused to recognise International Women’s Day.
“The importance of investing in women to advance progress was highlighted, along with the incredible contribution and leadership of women unionists in the region,” Yewdall says.
“Plans to encourage greater participation of female and youth workers engaged in education formed the basis of discussions on the final day, with sharing of successful strategies and hopes for the future a key feature of action plans developed and delivered by affiliates”.
Union solidarity across borders
Yewdall found that interactions over the three days were characterised by a strong spirit of solidarity and a clear commitment to shared union values in finding solutions to problems.
“Many of the action plans indicated possibilities for strengthening connections between affiliates, with a particular focus on the opportunity to extend and cement relationships through the COPE Women’s Network, led by Nanise Kamikamicka of the Fijian Teachers Association,” she says.
“Engagement with COPE is a natural extension of the IEU’s commitment to solidarity and social justice.
“It is also key to developing a strong network of education unions in the Pacific, collaborating to improve the working lives of teachers and ensure equitable education outcomes for all.”