The recent Council of Pacific Education (COPE) Conference held in Nadi, Fiji, underscored the crucial and powerful role of unions in addressing pressing issues.
Bringing together union members and leaders from numerous Pacific nations from 1 to 3 March, the COPE conference served as a platform to strengthen capacities, strategise, and identify opportunities for collective action within the education sector throughout the Pacific region.
Shared values and challenges
Reflecting the diverse challenges school staff across the Pacific face, the agenda encompassed a wide range of topics, including union development, quality education, teaching status, and climate justice.
There was a strong spirit of solidarity among attendees. We may come from different nations, but we share common union values such as equity and justice.
In various sessions, we discussed shared challenges from teacher shortages to inadequate workplace health and safety measures, underscoring the urgent need for concerted action and advocacy within the education sector.
Impact of climate change
The conference shed light on the profound impact of climate change on Pacific Island nations, emphasising that climate change is not just an environmental issue but also a pressing concern for education systems and communities at large.
Discussions underscored the importance of integrating climate resilience into educational frameworks and advocating for policies that prioritise sustainability.
