A regional heads of education virtual conference is currently underway to discuss policy issues facing regional and national education systems and ways to resolve them.

The 24th Consultation Meeting of the Pacific Heads of Education Systems is being co-hosted this year by the Government of Papua New Guinea and UNESCO from 27–30 July.

Discussions at the virtual conference will revolve around the theme “Building Resilience in Education Systems and Harnessing the Pacific Regional Collaboration.”

The virtual conference’s objective is to support member state’s mutual understanding and discussion on considerations in advancing each country’s education agenda, in particular in the context of COVID-19 and beyond, share country experience and challenges, and collectively identify areas for regional collaboration.

UNESCO Regional Office Director and Representative to the Pacific States, Ms. Nisha said in a statement the virtual conference was being co-hosted by P.N.G. with UNESCO and is at a critical juncture for the education sector in the Pacific.

“As much as there are similarities across the Pacific SIDS (Small Island Development States), it is a time when we can also clearly see the differentiated impacts of COVID-19 pandemic among and within the SIDS,” she said.

“UNESCO as the co-convener of PHES is there to support the countries cooperate and coproduce solutions where similarities are while helping identify trends and partnerships that will shape future provision of education.”

Ms Nisha said that while there are similarities across the Pacific Small Island Developing States, the pandemic affected different nations differently.

“As much as there are similarities across the Pacific SIDS, it is a time when we can also clearly see the differentiated impacts of COVID-19 pandemic among and within the SIDS,” she said. 

“UNESCO as the co-convener of PHES is there to support the countries cooperate and co-produce solutions where similarities are while helping identify trends and partnerships that will shape future provision of education.”