A Pacific child is used to hearing stories passed down orally by her elders, a tradition that has been part of her culture for generations. At school though, there is a struggle with the English books which felt distant from the tales she knew by heart.
One day, her teacher brought a bilingual book in English and her vernacular language. Her face lit up as the familiarity of the words, sounds, and the illustrations washed over her. These bilingual books not only supported her learning but also honoured her culture, making learning more meaningful and inclusive.
With this vision, the Institute of Education (IoE) at The University of the South Pacific, in collaboration with the Pacific Regional Education Framework (PacREF) and Kiribati Ministry of Education have launched Kiribati bilingual books for Kiribati children on Wednesday, August 7.
The Kiribati bilingual books written and illustrated by Kiribati educators for Kiribati students has been officially launched by the Curriculum Development Officer, Ministry of Education Kiribati, Tonobwa Kaoten.
Speaking at the launch, Mr Kaoten said the textbooks and resources produced for the teachings of culture, local languages, and the arts were invaluable assets that would empower the Kiribati students and educators alike.
“Moreover, this initiative is an exceptional example of your (Institute of Education) commitment to mainstreaming Pacific culture, language, and knowledge systems within our educational frameworks,” he said.
“By integrating these elements into our curricula, you are not only preserving our heritage but also ensuring that future generations have the opportunity to learn, appreciate, and take pride in their cultural identity.
“This initiative serves as a beacon of hope and a testament to the power of education in fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of our unique cultural tapestry,” Mr Kaoten said.
IoE’s Fellow in Literacy and Curriculum, ‘Ana Heti Veikune said the books were written in the span of a 5-day writeshop and the launch was the testament to the Kiribati educators’ commitment to education in Kiribati.
“Your 28 bilingual readers and 15 numeracy resources, aligned to the themes in your curriculum, spanning from ECCE to junior secondary, written by you, the educators of Kiribati for the children of Kiribati, complete with illustrations drawn by artists in Kiribati, and most of them having a Teachers’ and Parents’ Guide attached at the end, copyrighted to Kiribati Ministry of Education, and uploaded onto the Waka Moana Learning Hub, is a major feat worth celebrating; a most fragrant garland is completed and gifted back to you today,” she said.
“For the illustrations of the readers, some were drawn digitally and some by pencil and enhanced for printing, a time-consuming but most vital activity.
“The aspiration after this work, is that we do not want these readers to be a good wind blowing into a torn sail, you (meaning your children, teachers and parents) need to use the resources, and not just use them, but to use them well.
“We all need to keep writing our stories, we need to keep drawing our own illustrations, we need to keep telling and reading our stories to our children,” she said.
These stories have been uploaded on the Waka Moana Learning Hub, which is a comprehensive repository of resources, catering to the teaching and learning needs of literacy, numeracy, science and non-cognitive skills.
