Investments in the early years of children’s lives and in the first grades of their education are among the most important actions governments can take.  So said the Prime Minister and Minister of Education of Tonga, the Honourable Samuela ‘Akilisi Pohiva.

Pacific countries are doing well in terms of getting their children into primary school and ensuring completion.  Despite this progress over the years, however, decision-makers are concerned over learning outcomes.

Literacy and numeracy assessments in the Pacific reveal some improvements for year 4 and 6 students, yet literacy remains a significant problem with more than half of children in grades 4 and 6 not meeting the regional benchmarks.  Early reading assessments in 2009 revealed that only 3 out of 10 children in Tonga and 2 of 10 in Vanuatu in grade 3 could read and comprehend what they read. Clearly, literacy issues start early. On the basis of these results, the Pacific Early Age Readiness and Learning (PEARL) was designed to address school readiness and improve early grade literacy across the Pacific…