Education for what?

Jullian Fenny Lilo during the joint presentation of “Indigenous Languages in the Classroom: Challenges and Rewards.” The theme for the 2016 Vaka Pasifiki International Education Conference was “Education for What?”

(July 2016) Educators from around the Pacific gathered recently for the Vaka Pasifiki International Education Conference. This conference encouraged the weaving of theory and practice into teacher education for Oceania. The two day conference—jointly hosted by Solomon Islands National University, University of the South Pacific, and University of Victoria in New Zealand—was held 5-6 July 2016 on the Kukum Campus of the Solomon Islands National University. 

The conference provided opportunities to share ideas, present research and discuss best practice. Presentations and discussions addressed issues relevant to teacher education, educational policy and practice, teaching and learning in Oceania. 

One research presentation, “Indigenous Languages in the Classroom: Challenges and Rewards,” was given by SIL’s Timothy Matzke along with colleagues Jullian Fenny Lilo and Margaret Saumore from the Solomon Islands Ministry of Education. The presentation* reported on Preparatory and Grade One students in two language groups, Arosi and Sa’a, that are receiving instruction in their own languages. The curriculum follows the model of mother tongue based-multilingual education (MTB-MLE)  in which students are taught in their own language as well as learning English as a second language throughout the primary years.

Julien Kenny Lilo (left) and Timothy Matzke (right) present an analysis of their research where students are being taught in both their mother tongue and English. (Click Image to Enlarge)

While there have been challenges implementing the program, early assessments are providing evidence of students’ improved reading and writing. The MTB-MLE program coordinators are reporting positive attitudes about this model among students, teachers, parents and community leaders. 

* This conference presentation was based on the early implementation of the Solomon Islands Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development Policy Statement and Guidelines for the Use of Vernacular Languages and English in Education in Solomon Islands.

 

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