Certificate in Teaching TVET (Level 5) Programme Coordinator, Laisa Vuetaki Tifere (top, second from left) with the students during a zoom session.

The Fiji National University’s College of Humanities and Education, Department of Secondary and Sports Education has for the first time extended its Certificate in Teaching of TVET (Level 5) programme to students residing in Vanuatu.

A total of 25 students have enrolled in the programme so far.

Programme Coordinator, Laisa Vuetaki Tifere, said the main aim of the programme was to improve the quality of delivery in the technical and vocational skills of the labor force and enhance productivity and national employment opportunity.

Tifere added it was vital to know that once the students graduate, they would then be able to provide the young people of Fiji and other small island nations in the Pacific with technical competence, broad employability skills and enhance literacy and numeracy skills in all essential to improving the quality life.

“This is what the Vanuatu Ministry of Education and Training were looking for when they emailed us their request on Tuesday, 28 May 2024,” she said.

This led to a zoom discussion with them on Friday, 7 June 2024, where the programme structure details were presented and to inform them also, that the programme would be delivered online via zoom class, with all the required resources uploaded on the Moodle page.

She highlighted that the only challenge was the student’s unstable online connectivity.

“To address this, we have recorded our weekly lectures and uploaded them in the Moodle page together with the other resources so that we have enough time to have group discussions and a one-to-one discussion before their connectivity drops again,” she added.

Student, Naime Guba, who is a trained vocational instructor said when she heard about this programme, she applied for it as it would help her teach the subject of Home Economics to help equip young women with some life skills.

“I am fortunate to participate in this programme, and I expect it to help me in my teaching career and equip me with the knowledge and skills needed to train young women and men in secondary schools for Home Economics,” said Guba.

Another student, Patricia Setack, who is a trainer at the Vanuatu Agriculture College highlighted that the learning experience for her has so far been an interesting one.

“This programme refreshes my previous knowledge and skills about conducting training and assessments. It has enhanced my knowledge and skills in online course learning, and I really enjoy it,” she added.

The programme unit, TVT505 is taught by Miriama Loanakadavu while the programme unit TVT506 is taught by Laisa Vuetaki Tifere.