PORT VILA: The Pacific Aviation Safety Office (PASO) was delighted to gift IT equipment to the Vanuatu Ministry of Education this week to support the Ministry’s education goals.

In a handover ceremony at the Ministry of Education on Thursday 18 February, a PASO delegation met with key Education officials to donate the IT equipment, which included computers, laptops, and printers.

The donated IT equipment will be used by the Ministry of Education to support Vanuatu’s teachers and administrators most in need, including at schools in Provinces affected by Tropical Cyclone Harold.

The ceremony also paved the way for more discussions on partnership opportunities to create education pathways for Vanuatu citizens in the aviation sector, with the potential inclusion of PASO in the Ministry’s education cluster.

“The PASO Council made a deliberate decision at their July Council Meeting to donate retired  IT equipment to Vanuatu schools as a meaningful way to support education in Vanuatu,” said the PASO General Manager, Mr. Andrew Valentine.

“This is part of PASO’s commitment to the ‘learning circle’ and is in recognition that regionally we need more qualified Pacific Islander aviation specialists, including aviation inspectors, engineers, pilots, and air traffic controllers. Education pathways, together with international aviation work experience, are needed to achieve this regional capacity issue.”

The Director of Education Services Mr. Samueal Katipa said: “A bigfala thank you to PASO for this practical donation. The Ministry of Education has many challenges, including Tropical Cyclone Harold and COVID19, and very much appreciates PASO’s support.”

“Nowadays we evolve with education with technology, putting away old traditions. These donations will help in assisting office, schools, administrators to ensure learning takes place in our schools.”

“The Ministry of Education has agreements with NGOs throughout Vanuatu,  because we look after this country’s brains and future minds. Today is the first time we are having this get together with PASO, it is a big honor and privilege to have you all here,” concluded Director Katipa.