Chair for the Conference of Pacific Education Ministers Meeting (CPEM) and Papua New Guinea Minister for Education Hon Lucas Dawa Dekena, MP

Official Announcement of Papua New Guinea as Hosts of the 2025 Conference of Pacific Ministers of Education Meeting, launch of the CPEM 2025 logo and the 2025 CPEM website

 

Tenkiu, Mistress of Ceremonies for the kind introduction

Halo Halo Pacific, My Wansolwara!

Our future, our pikinini’s, students and teachers it is so inspiring to see you all lead at this official announcement of Papua New Guinea as hosts of the 2025 Conference of Pacific Ministers of Education Meeting in short CPEM, launch of the CPEM 2025 logo and the 2025 CPEM website.

You are the lifeline! for our future and education is fundamental to that.

Members of the Diplomatic Corp, international organisations, media organisations and my fellow Papua New Guineans welkam em gutpela tru long lukim yupela olgeta.

When I saw the brightness and the beauty of God’s display this morning I knew the late Minister, Hon. Jimmy Uguro was ensuring from heaven that through the currents of the Pacific Ocean we were going to sail together to Transform Edukesen for a Better Pacific in one lagatoi.

It was at the first CPEM in New Zealand that our late Minister had put up his hand to host this biennial meeting as the first Pacific Island nation, from March 18-20, 2025, right here Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea for the second Conference of Pacific Education Ministers (CPEM) to discuss some of the Pacific’s most pressing education challenges.

Before I elaborate further, I would like to thank the leadership of Prime Minister Hon James Marape (The Marape-Rosso Government) for the trust and confidence in me to lead the Education Ministry.

Prime Minister Marape himself has been a trailblazer for education, as Minister, in the same portfolio and successfully hosted the 2010 Forum Education Ministers Meeting (FEdMM) – the predecessor of CPEM.

Today, as the newly appointed Minister for Education for Papua New Guinea, I stand before you with immense pride and excitement to mark a significant milestone in our collective journey towards transforming edukesen across the Pacific region through CPEM.

CPEM further reflects a more active and formal engagement with civil society organisations (CSOs) who are important stakeholders in education development in the Pacific.

As we gather here today, we are not just unveiling a logo! We are embracing a vision.

A vision rooted in the outcomes of the recent Pacific Forum Leaders Meeting held in Tonga, where we collectively reaffirmed our commitment to advancing education as a fundamental pillar of sustainable development and the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.

Education is not merely a pathway to individual success; it is the cornerstone of resilient and thriving communities across our Pacific islands.

The logo we have unveiled today symbolises our unity, our shared aspirations, and our commitment to

fostering inclusive, equitable, and quality education for all.

Like the vibrancy of Papua New Guinea’s, national symbol, the Kumul, or you may say the Bird of Paradise.

It reflects the diversity of our cultures, the richness of our traditions, and the collective strengths of our nations.

However, most importantly it is a beacon of hope that reminds us of our responsibility to nurture the potential of every child, youth, and adult in our region through harnessing the power of education.

In 2018 the Forum Education Ministers Meeting (FEdMM) endorsed a regional policy guide known as The Pacific Regional Education Framework (PacREF) for 15 Pacific Island country members.

They are Cook Islands, Fiji, the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu including Australia and New Zealand.

The Pacific Education Regional Framework provides us with essential guidelines and goals to elevate our education systems.

As we implement the 16 Regional Goods across the Pacific Region, we are guided by the principles of collaboration, respect, and innovation.

Together, we will harness our unique strengths and address our challenges, to ensure that education in the Pacific is not only accessible, but also quality, relevant, and empowering.

Our shared commitment is critical, especially in the face of rapid changes in our global environment. We must adapt our educational strategies to not only respond to these changes but to thrive amidst them.

From climate change, disaster risk reduction, to technological advancements, the challenges we face require us to be forward-thinking, creative, and responsive.

As ministers of education, we have a profound duty to our nations and our people. We must ensure that our education systems are resilient, inclusive, and capable of preparing our students for the future.

Together, we will strive to eliminate barriers to education, enhance the quality of teaching and learning, and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

As we embark on this journey towards the Conference of Pacific Ministers of Education 2025, let us remain steadfast in our commitment to work collaboratively.

Let us share our knowledge, our experiences, and our successes through tok toks. By doing so, we will not only elevate education in our own countries but also contribute to the collective strength as one Pacific region.

I invite each of you to embrace this new logo as a symbol of our dedication and unity and I am further honoredto launch the official website for the 2025 Conference.

This platform will be your central hub for all information related to CPEM—from conference schedules and speaker profiles to registration details and updates.

Together, we can foster a brighter future for our children, our communities, and our nations.

Let us continue to dream, innovate, and take bold steps towards realising our vision for education in the Pacific.

Thank you, and I look forward to the fruitful discussions and collaborations that lie ahead by working together with our cohosts, The University of the South Pacific who generously hosts the PacREF Facilitation Unit – the PFU.

This high-level conference will bring together Education Ministers from the Pacific, senior government officials, educators, development partners, civil society organisations, and policymakers to address key education priorities within the Pacific toward the goals of the Pacific Regional Education Framework and 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.

With this, lukim yupela next year. Tenkiu Tru!!

October 17, 2024
CHESHIRE DISABILITY SERVICES PNG, Port Moresby (Hohola, Wards Road)
10.30 AM (PNG TIME)