UNFPA Pacific and Fiji Ministry of Education cement partnership to strengthen Family Life Education in schools

SUVA, Fiji – The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Pacific and the Fiji Ministry of Education (MOE) achieved a significant and historical milestone on 21 February when both signed the Implementing Partner (IP) Agreement. This Agreement signed under UNFPA Pacific’s Multi-Country Programme (2023-2027) will enable UNFPA to formalize and kick-start its assistance to MOE’s on-going efforts at rolling out the Family Life Education (FLE) programme based on the international standards in Years 4 to 12 across all the 736 primary and 176 secondary schools in the country.

The IP agreement was signed at the Ministry between Permanent Secretary for Education, Ms Selina Kuruleca, and UNFPA Director for the Pacific and Representative in Fiji, Iori Kato. 

“The Ministry of Education welcomes this partnership with UNFPA,” said Permanent Education Secretary. The in-school FLE programmes can provide students with opportunities to learn and practice ‘life skills’ such as communications, relationship, negotiation, critical thinking, decision-making, as well as domestic finance, digital literacy, and other dimensions.

“Family Life Education is critical for the children in Fiji in developing knowledge, life skills, attitude and values that are critical for them in making sensible and responsible decisions and choices about their physical and mental health and overall lives.  The Ministry, through this programme with UNFPA support, will further enhance the on-going FLE programme in school, also by revising the FLE curriculum to be aligned to international standards.”  The implementation of FLE will also contribute to accelerating the country’s progress towards achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 3 on Health and Well-being, SDG 4 on Quality Education and SDG 5 on Gender Equality, according to MOE.

The signing of UNFPA’s Implementing Partner Agreement with the Fiji Ministry of Education was for the first time in 16 years. “Life skills that young children in Fiji learn through FLE will help them cope with some key issues that they may encounter, and avoid bullying, violence, psychosocial distress, substance abuse, and unintended pregnancy so that they can stay in school.  UNFPA is thrilled with this revamped partnership with the esteemed Education Ministry of Fiji, and looks forward to contributing to MOE’s endeavor to support young people in Fiji to navigate their transition from childhood, adolescence to adulthood, to become healthy, responsible and productive citizens,” said UNFPA Pacific Director Kato.

UNFPA under the current Pacific Multi-Country Programme, with funding support from the Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, is providing financial and technical support to nice (9) Pacific small island countries including Fiji, in rolling out the FLE programmes, both in and out of school, based on the UNESCO international standards on Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) adapted to the Pacific regional and each individual country context.