Attorney-General and Education Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum with Kenyan Education Minister, Amina Mohamed, Secretary General to the Commonwealth, Baroness Patricia Scotland and former Chair of the 19th Conference of Education Ministers from the Bahamas, Jeffrey L’lloyd each holding a copy of the Nadi Declaration after the 20th Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers ended at Sheraton Resort on Denarau Island in Nadi on February 23, 2018. Photo: Arieta Vakasukawaqa
The Nadi Declaration will be a significant document for all Commonwealth nations, says Attorney-General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum. He made the remark as education ministers last night successfully ended the 20th Conference of the Commonwealth Education Ministers at Sheraton Fiji Resort on Denarau Island in Nadi.
The Republic of the Fiji Military Forces Band accorded the retreat where army personnel and police officers participated.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum, who chaired the conference, said the Nadi Declaration was a contribution of all the Commonwealth countries present at the conference. He added that the conference was a platform where these countries deliberated on the issues affecting their education systems and ways they could be addressed.
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Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said the issues varied depending on the different countries in which the issues existed. He then gave an example of Technical Vocational Education and Training. Issues in each different country were highlighted.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum added that the one-week conference saw the agreements signed between Commonwealth nations creating a common platform between them.
He said this would also allow them to tap into the Commonwealth and their respective countries.
“There are certain aspects of our education sector that we would like to improve, what we need to do if things aren’t going well,” he said.
He then highlighted the set-up of technical colleges in Fiji where it gave the opportunity to students to attain skills for employment and to ensure that they moved up to the next stage which increased productivity.
“I think it’s also interesting we are able to agree with the fact that we all need to be able to share information,” he said. He said, for example, in some countries they had five different types of reforms.
He said in Fiji, we have reforms in teacher training and salary review and other countries might have done it and have information for us to be able to tap into the Commonwealth Secretariat..
Some of the highlights of the Nadi Declaration ministers noted was the high rates of youth unemployment in rapidly changing job markets.
Secretary-General to the Commonwealth, Baroness Patricia Scotland thanked Mr Sayed- Khaiyum for successfully chairing the conference.
