FICs ADB Skills Study
PRESS STATEMENT
31 October 2006
81/06
MORE THAN 20 THOUSAND SURVEYS OUT IN ADB SKILLS STUDY
More than 20 thousand survey forms have been sent out to employers and employees throughout 13 Forum Island Countries (FICs) taking part in the Regional Skills Development Study.
The Study is coordinated by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and funded by the Asian Development Bank through a grant from the Japan Special Fund.
"The Pacific has invested a lot of its scarce resources on education but are we achieving the right mix. Are we training enough skilled workers as well as university graduates? It is the tradesperson and small business people who create jobs and make the economy grow," Greg Urwin, Secretary General of the Forum Secretariat says.
"Forum Island Countries need the right mix of teachers and doctors but also carpenters, plumbers, chefs, fishermen, agriculturalists and managers," Mr Urwin says.
"The ADB and the Forum Secretariat are undertaking this survey of employers and their employees across 13 Pacific Islands Countries to identify the gap between what skills employers need and what training is currently being provided."
Mr Urwin urges employers and employees to take the time to complete the survey.
"The survey will be most meaningful if a good response rate is achieved. If employers and employees will take time from their busy schedules to complete the survey and return it, they will assist the study to identify where scarce education resources should be channelled," Mr Urwin says.
The survey is being conducted by domestic consultants in each country, assisted by a group of international consultants engaged by the ADB.
Countries involved in the Study are: Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
Results of the Study will be available by July 2007on the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat website: www.forumsec.org.fj.
ENDS.
For more information, please contact Ms Diane Barr on phone (679) 3220 296 or fax (679) 3300 192 or email: dianeb@forumsec.org
31 October 2006
81/06
MORE THAN 20 THOUSAND SURVEYS OUT IN ADB SKILLS STUDY
More than 20 thousand survey forms have been sent out to employers and employees throughout 13 Forum Island Countries (FICs) taking part in the Regional Skills Development Study.
The Study is coordinated by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and funded by the Asian Development Bank through a grant from the Japan Special Fund.
"The Pacific has invested a lot of its scarce resources on education but are we achieving the right mix. Are we training enough skilled workers as well as university graduates? It is the tradesperson and small business people who create jobs and make the economy grow," Greg Urwin, Secretary General of the Forum Secretariat says.
"Forum Island Countries need the right mix of teachers and doctors but also carpenters, plumbers, chefs, fishermen, agriculturalists and managers," Mr Urwin says.
"The ADB and the Forum Secretariat are undertaking this survey of employers and their employees across 13 Pacific Islands Countries to identify the gap between what skills employers need and what training is currently being provided."
Mr Urwin urges employers and employees to take the time to complete the survey.
"The survey will be most meaningful if a good response rate is achieved. If employers and employees will take time from their busy schedules to complete the survey and return it, they will assist the study to identify where scarce education resources should be channelled," Mr Urwin says.
The survey is being conducted by domestic consultants in each country, assisted by a group of international consultants engaged by the ADB.
Countries involved in the Study are: Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
Results of the Study will be available by July 2007on the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat website: www.forumsec.org.fj.
ENDS.
For more information, please contact Ms Diane Barr on phone (679) 3220 296 or fax (679) 3300 192 or email: dianeb@forumsec.org
