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Youths in Fiji need more motivation , encouragement and support for skill development to be in par with the current technologies.
Open schooling will give the motivation to students that they can learn at their own pace and do not have to apply for leaves to attend classes which affects their pay. Some students hesitate to attend classes as they do not want deduction from their salaries for taking leaves to attend classes. -
Students need good internet connection and ICT skills,
Open schooling can educate students on ICT skills which they can upgrade at their own pace and time. -
Students need to continue with their education during natural disasters and pandemics. After disasters and during pandemics normal school learnings are interrupted. When students miss out on school work, their education is negatively impacted.
During such time open schooling gives an opportunity to students to continue with their learning without interruption and the learning momentum is maintained. Students are linked to schooling therefore they are not diverted to other activities such as online games which affects their learning.
The skills gap analysis between 2018 and 2022 revealed that, 75 % of the curricula of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions in Ghana are outdated. This is simply due to the ineffective teaching which has negatively impacted the productivity level of the graduate youth within the job market.
The attempt to addtess the gaps in the curriculum was highly felt wihich led to the need to ensure availability of Jobs and Skills Project, which is expected to develop 100 competency-based training (CBT) packages from level one (proficiency) to level five (higher national diploma) of the national TVET qualification framework”.
An investments involved includes the upgrading and modernisation of all the erstwhile 34 National Vocational Training Institutes (NVTIs), the head office, together with 10 regional offices, five apprenticeship offices across the country and the Opportunities Industrialisation Centre at Bawaleshie in Accra are to be catered for this involved the construction, rehabilitation and equipping of laboratories, workshops, additional classrooms, hostels and administrative offices with €123 million.
Furthermore, two new foundries and machining centres at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Accra and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi were completed last year.
Construction work on five new district of TVET centres of excellence was ongoing, with those at Anyinam in the Eastern Region and Pakyi No. 2 and Manso Abore, both in the Ashanti Region, nearing completion, while those at Assin Jakai in the Central Region and Akomadan in the Ashanti Region were at various stages of completion as indicated in the report.
As part of the strategic plan to ensure the evenly spread of skills at the disposal of industries, he said, the government was establishing sector-specific skills bodies in 22 identified economic sectors, with 12 of such bodies already inaugurated.
The analysis and audit findings had contributed to the work of the sector skills bodies to help with the generation and upgrading of standards within the CBT framework.
The support towards the youth was to work at creating a sustainable TVET financing mechanism with the enhancement of the Ghana Skills Development Fund. The biggest activity will be to oversee the implementation of the modified dual TVET based on increased industrial attachment.
As part of the regulatory mandate of the commission, there would be stronger monitoring mechanisms with tracer studies in TVET institutions, especially at the technical universities, stressing that the attempt are working towards bridging innovation and learning in TVET. An approach to assist the youth to better fit the society as a whole.
In my community in Fiji these are the following suggestion for improvement:
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QUALITY EDUCATION
Quality education is a process rather than an outcome, Open school can provide essential quality education using resources that can prepare students to survive in any living context. -
ICT TRAINING
Open school to provide can training to make youth more computer literate through online class and use of technology. -
APPRENTICES
Open School can partnership with companies and institution to create opportunity for youth to understand and upgrade skills in practical.
Life needs for youths in Fiji may include the following
A. Access to quality education, vocational training, and relevant skills development.
B. Access to technology and internet for learning and communication.
C. Opportunities for internships, apprenticeships, and job placements.
Following are some ways in which open schools in Fiji can provide the life skills needed for youths.
- Access to Quality Education and Skills Development:
• Open schools can offer a wide range of courses and learning resources, ensuring that students have access to quality education.
• They can provide vocational training programs to equip students with practical skills that are relevant to the job market. - Access to Technology and Internet:
• Open schools can offer online classes and resources, making technology and the internet readily accessible for learning and communication.
• They can work to bridge the digital divide by providing devices and internet access to students in need. - Internships, Apprenticeships, and Job Placements:
• Open schools can collaborate with local businesses and organizations to facilitate internships, apprenticeships, and job placements for their students.
• They can maintain a network of potential employers and create pathways to employment.
Youth in Fiji, like in many other places, have a diverse range of needs that are influenced by various social, economic, and cultural factors. Here are some of the key characteristics and life needs of youths in Fiji:
- Education and Skills Development:
- Access to quality education and vocational training is crucial for youths in Fiji to acquire the skills needed for employment and personal development.
- Employment Opportunities:
- Youth unemployment and underemployment can be significant challenges. Access to meaningful and stable employment is crucial for financial independence and personal fulfillment.
- Health and Well-being:
- Physical and mental health are fundamental needs for youths. Access to healthcare services, information on sexual and reproductive health, and mental health support are essential.
- Housing and Shelter:
- Adequate and safe housing is vital for youths to thrive and build stable lives.
- Social Inclusion and Participation:
- Opportunities for youths to engage in civic activities, sports, arts, and cultural events can foster a sense of belonging and community involvement.
- Access to Information and Technology:
- Access to reliable information and technology is crucial for education, employment, and social interaction.
- Financial Literacy and Economic Empowerment:
- Youths need to develop skills in managing finances, understanding economic systems, and accessing financial services.
- Safety and Security:
- Ensuring personal safety and security from crime and violence is a fundamental need for youths.
- Cultural Identity and Heritage:
- Preserving and celebrating cultural traditions and heritage is important for a sense of identity and belonging.
- Environmental Awareness and Sustainability:
- With Fiji’s strong connection to the environment, awareness of sustainable practices and environmental conservation is significant for youths.
- Access to Justice and Legal Support:
- Ensuring that youths have access to a fair and just legal system, as well as information about their rights and responsibilities.
- Positive Role Models and Mentoring:
- Having access to positive adult role models and mentors can greatly influence the personal and professional development of youths.
- Opportunities for Recreation and Leisure:
- Access to recreational activities and leisure pursuits contribute to overall well-being and provide outlets for creativity and self-expression.
- Family and Social Support Networks:
- Strong family and social support systems are crucial for providing emotional, practical, and financial support to youths.
- Empowerment and Leadership Opportunities:
- Creating avenues for youths to take on leadership roles and actively participate in decision-making processes empowers them to shape their own futures.
It’s important to note that the specific needs and characteristics of youths in Fiji may vary based on factors such as urban or rural residence, cultural background, socio-economic status, and educational level. Additionally, these needs may evolve over time in response to changing societal and economic conditions.
- I have thought about the youths in Fiji and listed their characteristics in terms of their life needs. I have also discussed this with a colleague who is also a teacher, and we have consulted employment survey reports from the Ministry of Labour in Fiji to understand skills gaps in the economy.
Following is a list of the life needs of youth in Fiji:
- Education and training
- Employment opportunities
- Access to healthcare
- Affordable housing
- A safe and secure environment
- Opportunities to participate in social and cultural activities
Here is a list of skills gaps identified in the Fijian economy:
- Technical skills, such as carpentry, electrical, and plumbing
- Information technology skills
- Business skills
- Language skills, such as English and Mandarin Chinese
- Based on the identified needs of youth and skills gaps in the economy, here is a list of suggested offerings for open schooling in Fiji:
- Technical skills courses, such as carpentry, electrical, and plumbing
- Information technology courses
- Business courses
- Language courses, such as English and Mandarin Chinese
- Life skills courses, such as financial literacy and conflict resolution
- I am happy to share my list in the chat forum and read the lists of other students. I am sure that there are other needs that could be added to my list, and I am interested in learning more about the needs of youth in other countries.
Here are some additional needs that I have identified from the chat forum:
- Mental health support
- Sexual and reproductive health education
- Environmental education
- Entrepreneurship education
I believe that open schooling can play an important role in meeting the life needs of youth in Fiji and other countries. By offering a variety of courses and flexible learning options, open schooling can help youth to develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in life and work.
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Characteristics of Youth in the Solomon Islands (based on their life needs)
|a.|Recognition/visible|
|b.|Innovative gems|
|c.|Creative in technology | -
Open schooling based on the needs
- Hear the voice of the youth in the forum to find out their needs
- The country should put up life skills training in technical industries such as
- Farmers, Plumbing, ICT, building and
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added on lists
a. the need for better education and training
b. the need for involvment into life skills job
c. the need to collaborate with young people to know their needs in their work space.
d. their is a need to make them feel belong and part of the community.
Here in Kiribati these are some of the youth characteristics in life
- Eagerness to work abroad
- Interest in the new technology
- Loving sports
- Live independently
These characteristics mighty be worthwhile for bridging the gaps in the economy if free online courses which are not included in the curriculum offered to all youth members both in formal or vocational schools. Skills to work abroad such hospitality, skills in using technology to earn money, skills in games never practiced in the country and contraceptive methods, to earn a living and etc, all these skills could meet the need of a youth and be productive to the country economy.
- In the case of Solomon islands,the needs of youths in the society,
- youths to access to quality education
- safety
- financial literacy
- civic engagement
Access Quality Education- the youths were requires access to education and opportunities for skill development to prepare for their future
Safety -ensuring safety environment and protection from violence and exploitation is a fundamental needs.These needs can vary based on cultural ,socioeconomic and geographical factors.
Financial Literacy- youth to learn about budgeting,saving and financial responsibilty is critical for their independence.
Civic Engagement- youth often have a desire to engage in their community and participate in decision making processes.
2. Suggested offerings for Open Schooling in Solomon Islands
- Vocational training-provide vocational courses that align with the local job market,including skills such as Agriculture,fishing,carpentry and other trades that are relevant to the Solomon Islands economy.
-Entrepreneurship and business- to support economic development in Solomon islands
- Added list
-Environmental Education
-Health and Wellness
-History and Social study
- Disaster preparedness and Climate resilience.
Characteristics of Youth in Fiji
*Quality Education for all - offer relevant courses to suit their learning needs.
*Engage in community services - involve youths in community work.
*Counseling - teach moral and civic education to all.
*Good manners - teach youths to be kind and helpful to others.
What youths need in life:
- Discipline
- Basic skills to uplift career goals
- Experience in life to stretch their horizons in terms of work exposure
- Academic education
- Health care
- Time and money management
List of suggested offerings for open schooling in my country based on the identified needs of youths:
- Design social guidelines for discipline procedure. Implement spiritual lessons.
- Career exploration at earlier stage
- Formative assessments to help students develop skills.
- Curriculum to be revised regularly to suit students level.
- Implement health promotion programmes in schools.
- Create a calendar, recognise and revise achievements.
- Design Numeracy Curriculum to include money management and organise school savings bank.
Very true to all geographically learning in open schools. Well said @pat1
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Characteristics of Youths in Fiji**
- Mental Health and Wellbeing
- Financial Education
- Quality Education for all
- ICT/Internet Accessibility
- Environment sustainability
- Awareness programmes
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List of suggested offerings for open schooling in my country based on the identified needs
of youths:-
Mental Health and Wellbeing - Open schools to elaborate on psychosocial support and
to create awareness on mental health and well being. They can also provide counselling
to the students dealing with mental health issues. More awareness to be created on
anger management. -
Financial Education - to integrate financial education in schools. Open schools to
incorporate financial education into their curriculum. It is also very important to
encourage youths to be financially independent in this 21st century. -
Quality Education for all - open schools to offer wide range of courses to prepare youths
not only for white collar jobs but also blue collar jobs in near future. -
ICT/Internet Accessibility - importance to be given to computer education from early
stages. Open schools to change the mode of lesson delivery from face to face to online
classes using zoom/google meet etc. so that youths have knowledge about how ICT
works. -
Environment sustainability - Open schools to educate youths about biodiversity and the
importance of sustaining environment. They can also organize clean up campaigns and
tree planting projects. -
Awareness programmes (cultural) - open schools to promote multiculturalism by hosting
all the cultural events to show unity amongst different races of people living together.
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- The life needs of youth would include:
a. Access to quality education for better employment.
b. Access to proper technology.(Digital Literacy)
c. Affordable health care services.
d. Mental health and well being support.
e. Opportunities for Aids and scholarships.
f. Environmental Awareness and Sustainability.
2.Suggested offering for open schooling would be:
a.Providing various career opportunities for young youths through expanding vocational training centers.
b. Quality education to be given to develop the skills and knowledge of the youths for better job opportunities.
c. Flexible learning opportunities to help the youths to plan for online, part time or evening classes.
d. Making technology and internet readily available as it helps the youth to be computer literate for better learning and communication .
Characteristics in terms of life needs for youths in Fiji.
- Education
Education is what the youths need in the 21st century for a better life. - Access to technology
Youths in the country need e - learning to make things work easier. - Conserving Resources
Youths need to conserve resources for future generation. - Climate Change
Youths in Fiji need to work together to solve the problem of climate change. - Preserving culture
Culture is important to every Youth in the country.
Suggested offerings for open schooling
• Short courses for Youths from recognized universities for job opportunities.
• Developing Numeracy and Literacy skills of Youths.
• Environmental Education to conserve resources for future generation
• Cultural Programs to support and celebrate diverse cultural backgrounds.
Youths of today shall be provided with:
a) Education on teenage pregnancy, capacity building on the misuse of drug and alcohol
consumption leading to sexual abuse.
b) Address unemployment through utilization of natural resources to make money such as
land.
c) Empowering youths to make right/correct decisions and do not fall in the school dropout
category.
d) Ensuring that social media is used for healthy reasons other than misusing it.
e) Engaging youths in stronger youth networking.
f) Awareness and empowerment to instill traditional habits and cultural practices.
Life needs for Youth
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Education: Access to quality educational is crucial for the development of youths. It equips them with knowledge, skills, and opportunities for a better future.
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Healthcare: Ensuring services is important to support the well-being and physical development of youths. This includes access to medical facilities, vaccinations, and health education.
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Recreation and Leisure: Young people need opportunities for recreational activities and leisure pursuits to promote their mental and emotional well-being. This can include sports, cultural events, art programs, and community spaces.
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Social Support: Creating a supportive environment where youths feel valued and respected is crucial. This can involve mentoring programs, counseling services, and community engagement initiatives.
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Safety and security: Ensuring a safe and secure environment is vital for the overall well-being of youths. This includes addressing issues such as crime, violence, and substance abuse through effective law enforcement and prevention strategies.
Characteristics of youths in Fiji in terms of their life needs are as follows:
- Access to Quality Education and Skills Development:
•Open schools can offer a wide range of courses and learning resources, ensuring that students have access to quality education.
•They can provide vocational training programs to equip students with practical skills that are relevant to the job market.
2.Support for Cultural Preservation and Identity:
•Open schools can incorporate culturally relevant content into their curriculum to help students maintain their cultural identity.
•They can host cultural events, activities, or virtual gatherings to celebrate diversity and cultural heritage.
3.Access to Technology and Internet:
•Open schools can offer online classes and resources, making technology and the internet readily accessible for learning and communication.
•They can work to bridge the digital divide by providing devices and internet access to students in need.
4.Environmental Sustainability:
•Open schools can integrate environmental education and sustainability topics into their curriculum.
•They can organize virtual or in-person eco-awareness events, tree-planting campaigns, or community clean-up activities.
5.Internships, Apprenticeships, and Job Placements:
•Open schools can collaborate with local businesses and organizations to facilitate internships, apprenticeships, and job placements for their students.
•They can maintain a network of potential employers and create pathways to employment.
In Fiji, youths have access to free secondary education. In addition they have options for technical and vocational education and training (TVET) as well.
Some of the needs include:
- strengthening of of TVET curriculum to cater for shortages in trade areas such as carpentry, joinery, plumbing, tile laying, mechanics, automotive and domestic electricians, HVAC technicians, farmers.
Not all the youths would be able to pursue tertiary education therefore providing TVET will empower them to meet the job market needs or themselves become entrepreneurs. - Since skill related education and training requires practical experience, there is a need to workout ways to implement the curriculum. It definitely requires face to face access to skilled trainers and workshops supplemented by online theoretical curriculum.
- Apart from TVET other areas of need include financial management, entrepreneurship - how to setup and run a business, environmental management which can be taught to youths to give them options to find employment or startup their own business or form community groups,
Some of the youth skill gaps in Fiji today include:
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Digital Skills: Many Fijian youths lack digital literacy and skills, hindering their ability to adapt to and excel in an increasingly digitalized world. This includes skills like computer programming, data analysis, social media management, and using digital tools for business purposes.
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Technical Vocational Skills: There is a shortage of skilled trade workers in Fiji. Many young people lack skills in areas such as plumbing, carpentry, automotive repair, electrical work, and construction. This gap limits opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship in these sectors.
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Entrepreneurship and Business Skills: The entrepreneurial spirit among Fijian youth is often hampered by a lack of business and entrepreneurial skills. Many young people lack knowledge in areas such as business planning, financial management, marketing, and sales, which are vital for starting and running a successful business.
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Communication and Soft Skills: Effective communication skills, both written and verbal, are essential in the workplace. Many young Fijians lack these skills, including public speaking, presentation skills, and interpersonal communication. Additionally, soft skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, and critical thinking are often underdeveloped.
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Environmental and Sustainable Practices: The importance of environmental sustainability and conservation is growing globally. However, many young people in Fiji lack the skills and knowledge necessary for sustainable practices, environmental management, and conservation efforts.
Addressing these skill gaps requires a comprehensive approach from various stakeholders, including the government, educational institutions, private sector, and civil society organizations. This involves improving curriculum design, investing in teacher training and professional development, providing access to vocational training and apprenticeships, promoting entrepreneurship and business incubation programs, and incorporating environmental education into school curricula.