Our Literacy Opportunity
"In Vanuatu, literacy presents a challenge that should be front and centre as a national priority."
Author: Stephanie Pflugfelder is a Ni-Vanuatu educator, writer, and artist based out of Port Vila. Her passion for education stems from her belief that it is the most effective tool for individual self-realization and community development.
Education is a critical resource. It’s a tool that heightens our capacity to become the best versions of ourselves, pursue financial success and freedom, as well as make an impact within our communities. It would be a challenge to find anyone who doesn’t think that education should be a top priority within their nation.
However, to access the wide array of opportunities that education can unlock, an essential skill is required: the ability to read.
In Vanuatu, literacy presents a challenge that should be front and centre as a national priority.
Despite the many hardships that we face as a nation, developing a literacy strategy as one piece of a long-term approach to sustainable solutions for our collective future is a vital step for the incoming government.
The problem
Data on literacy rates in Vanuatu paint a troubling picture. A survey conducted in 2007 by the University of the South Pacific on adult English literacy rates revealed that only 38% of participants were literate. Additional data from a literacy assessment conducted in 2011 by the Vanuatu Education Coalition in Shefa province revealed a startling 27.6% literacy rate.
From a regional perspective, these figures appear to represent an issue that is not unique to Vanuatu. Results from the Pacific Island Literacy and Numeracy Assessment illustrate that in 2021, only 43% of year four students and 53% of year six students are reaching the expected literacy performance standards. These scores have remained relatively stable since 2015, without significant deviation either upwards or downwards.
The issue is complex, and there are numerous reasons why literacy rates are so low in Vanuatu. In a country where education is delivered in either French or English and not Bislama, our most widely spoken national language, the battle is uphill from the onset. Despite that, improving national literacy rates is not an impossible feat, and our government must ensure literacy is deemed a national priority to address this monumental barrier to the nation’s development, prosperity, and sovereignty.
Literacy as a catalyst for economic opportunity
To improve Vanuatu’s economic competitiveness, it is crucial to address literacy rates in both youth and adults. By building upon this foundational skill, our nation supports more skilled individuals to enter the labour force and creates new opportunities for economic development.
The story of literacy opening up economic opportunity is nothing new. Following the Korean War, South Korea’s government prioritized access to universal education, ensuring that adults and primary school children were receiving a high standard of instruction to promote universal literacy. Through prioritizing education through investment and perseverance, the formerly low-income agrarian society was able to transform into one of the world’s most advanced economies.
In addition to the overall economic benefits a concentrated literacy campaign could deliver, the impacts would also help address youth unemployment across the nation. According to Vanuatu’s national sustainable development plan, Vanuatu 2030, 26% of the nation’s youth are unemployed. By targeting literacy, youth are better equipped to access opportunities to build their skillset, earn an income, and help support the development of their communities.
Literacy to promote health and wellbeing
In addition to economic benefits, a sustained effort to improve literacy in Vanuatu can also improve the population’s health and wellbeing. A report by the Yale Child Study Centre and Scholastic suggests that the impact of literacy can have a positive and life-long impact on a child’s physical and mental health, and could even contribute to longevity.
Reading skills allow individuals to access and understand information that can be used to support one’s health and health-related decisions, an ability referred to as “health literacy”. A 2006 study that took place at San Francisco General Hospital in the United States illustrates this concept through work with diabetes patients. Their research showed that patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who demonstrated a high reading level were more likely to effectively manage their blood sugar levels compared to peers with lower reading ability.
In addition to improved healthcare, improving literacy rates can also contribute to strategies to combat gender-based violence in Vanuatu. According to the Centre for Family Health Initiative, improved literacy can help combat violence by supporting women’s awareness and empowerment, shifting cultural norms, creating safe spaces for women, and developing women’s economic independence. Reading can help inform individuals of their rights, help them access justice, and build tolerance, all of which contribute to a future where women and children are safe and respected.
Literacy, nation-building, and development
As a relatively new country, Vanuatu’s independence and status as a democracy are an excellent opportunity to shape the country according to shared values, priorities, and interests. And according to the data, our nation’s population is passionately democratic.
According to Global State of Democracy Initiatives, Vanuatu ranks 45th amongst the globe’s most democratic nations, putting us in the top 25th percentile worldwide. Our most recent snap election saw turn out come close to 70% of eligible voters; an impressive figure conveying the passion and dedication of the nation to have a say in our collective future.
By investing in literacy, constituents in Vanuatu would continue to develop and build upon democratic participation for the country’s future development. In Australia, a campaign to address literacy rates in Brewarrina shows the impact of empowering the community through the implementation of the “Yes I Can” model for addressing adult literacy. An Aboriginal-led campaign that integrated local knowledge and gained support from local organizations and elders, the model for literacy development supported the community to engage more effectively in governance, in addition to contributing to cultural revitalization, health, and economic empowerment.
How do we get there?
In Vanuatu, education is governed by the Ministry of Education. Over the years, the Ministry has made promising moves to invest more in education, most clearly noted in the national government’s 25% increase in funding to the sector between 2020 and 2021. The momentum is there to strategically tackle English literacy in Vanuatu, starting with:
Implementing a national literacy strategy - A strategy to address literacy from the National government would give our nation’s leaders common ground to address a nonpartisan goal and benefit all of Ni-Vanuatu. The launch of a strategic and agile campaign to promote buy-in from the public and the many sectors of professionals involved in this work would help ensure long term goals are addressed as a shared issue.
Consult with Vanuatu’s literacy experts - Our nation has a wealth of wise, resourceful, and deeply committed educators who are profoundly passionate about literacy work. The nation’s government must tap into this valuable community to develop an action-oriented, sustainable strategy.
Collect data on literacy levels - Vanuatu’s government and education ministry must continue to collect critical data using tools such as the Vanuatu Standardized Test of Achievement to assess current reading levels and compare progress over time. Without the ability to collect data, Our nation can’t know if strategies to combat literacy are having the intended impact.
Vanuatu’s government has access to the tools and resources it needs to take long, overdue strides ahead to improve literacy in Vanuatu. The population is widely motivated to want to see their children excel in reading and continue their education, so it’s only fair to help them deliver.
We face many challenges in the years ahead of us, but our nation is held up every day by determined individuals who are ready to persevere for our collective wellbeing. It is without a doubt that literacy is an essential tool required as we tackle the pressing needs of our communities. Our beautiful nation has a bright future ahead, should our national government choose to prioritize the pressing needs that can help our dreams become reality. I am hopeful.
Sources:
Early, R & Tamtam, H (2007). Adult Literacy Survey in Vanuatu, TVET Project:
University of the South Pacific.
ASPBAE Australia and VEPAC. (2011). Education Experience Survey and Literacy Assessment:
SHEFA Province Vanuatu.
Pacific Islands Literacy and Numeracy Assessment (PILNA), Regional Report 2021. Source:
https://pilna.eqap.spc.int/2021/regional
“ONE OF THE WORLD’S POOREST COUNTRIES 50 YEARS AGO IS NOW THE HOME OF
SAMSUNG, KIA, AND HYUNDAI–THANKS TO EDUCATION”, Edify, 2020. Source:
https://edify.org/from-poverty-to-world-power-koreas-education-story/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Vanuatu 2030: The People’s Plan, Vanuatu Labour Statistics. Source: https://nsdp.vnso.gov.vu/labor/
Reading for Life: The Impact of Youth Literacy on Health Outcomes, Yale Child and Youth Centre and
Scholastic, Collaboration for Child and Family Resilience. May, 2023.
Schillinger, D., Barton, L. R., Karter, A. J., Wang, F., & Adler, N. (2006). Does literacy mediate the
relationship between education and health outcomes? A study of a low-income population with
diabetes. Public Health Reports, 121(3), 245–254.
Centre for Family Health Initiative, “The role of literacy in combatting gender-based violence against
women”, 2024. Source: https://www.cfhinitiative.org/speak-wednesday-on-the-role-of-literacy-in-
combating-gender-based-violence-against-women/
Global State of Democracy Initiative, “Vanuatu”. Source:
https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/country/vanuatu
Vanuatu Electoral Office, Official Electoral Results via Facebook, Source:
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Williamson F, Boughton B (2021). ‘I can speak on this here’: empowerment within an Aboriginal
adult literacy campaign. The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education 50, 168–175.
https://doi.org/10.1017/jie.2019.27
Vanuatu Education Support Program: Context Analysis (2021). Vanuatu’s fiscal effort in education.
https://espvanuatu.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Context-Analysis-Reviewed-S2-2020.pdf