On the tiny tropical island of Vanuatu, a local headmaster, Alick Garae, has been given a Blue Moon Opportunity, (one that will change a lot of lives), in being unexpectedly accepted by the Fulton College in Fiji, to study for his Primary School Bachelor Degree. However, it appears that due to lack of funds, Alick will be unable to accept this great offer.
Alick, a gifted teacher, has dedicated the last 22 years to educating the children of Port Vila, Vanuatu. He has increased the number of students in the Olwi School, in Port Vila, to 150, with classrooms from kindergarten to grade 6. Soon he hopes to take the school a step further by adding grades 8 to 10.
Alick has also been able to assist many of his staff to gain their local teaching qualifications and continues to train as many of his teachers, as his time permits.
One of Alick’s students has been chosen to be the first pupil to be given a non-repayable high school education grant from the YouMe Support Foundation and Child Trust Fund. A grant that is given only to children whose parents have absolutely no way of being able to raise the funds for their child to continue their education. Unfortunately this is not an uncommon thing in Vanuatu, where there is no free education. Statistics have changed little since the 1990 survey:
- 25% of children will never go to school
- Only 55.8% will reach grade 6
- Only 18.2% will continue on to high school.
Unfortunately it seems Alick finds himself in a similar situation to many of his students. He is unable to raise the funds to take up the golden opportunity to continue his own education, as he has to find $Fiji 4800 by January 2009.
The Fulton College has a special program which includes 11 hours per week of manual labour around the college. This not only improves the students skills in such areas as farming, orchid work, librarian and general gardening, is also of practical use when the students return home, but it allows the college to maintain a low structure of fees.
If anyone is able to assist Alick fulfill his dream of continuing his own education, so he can give better service to his own students and teachers, please contact Mark at the Daily Post on email: publisher@dailypost.com.vu or Dr Wendy on email: info@seachangelodge.com
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Tags: blue moon, blue moon opportunity, education in vanuatu, fulton college, local headmaster, local news, South Pacific, Vanuatu, youme support foundation
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