Port Vila, Vanuatu – 22 August 2023: Shefa Provincial Education Officer and chair of the local organizing committee of Vanuatu National School Games, Mr. David Naviti, received support of 800,000VT from Vanuatu Education Support Program (VESP) funded by the Government of Australia.
The MoET’s Director of Education Services, Mrs. Nanise Lapi, expressed her gratitude for the collaboration to stage this major sports event.
“The Ministry of Education and Training is pleased by the long-lasting partnership between the Governments of Vanuatu and Australia, to improve access, quality and management in the education sector in Vanuatu,” Mrs. Lapi said.
Mr. David Naviti said “The Vanuatu National School Games bring together Vanuatu students to promote health, fitness, social development, perseverance, discipline and team work. The support provided by the Government of Australia is highly appreciated by the local organizing committee of Vanuatu National School Games. The games are an important event for secondary schools and all the provinces”.
VESP Team Leader, Mr. David Letichevsky, said “Students’ growth and development are greatly aided by participation in sports. Participating in sports not only contributes to improving students’ health, but it also promotes greater understanding about rules and regulations, and promotes values learning such as cooperation, fairness, inclusion, respect and the relationship between effort and reward.”
The National School Games have been a huge success so far, with the opening attracting more than 5,000 people at Korman Stadium, Port Vila. More than 3,000 students from all the provinces are participating in 11 sport disciplines between 21 and 30 August 2023, showcasing their skills in athletics, basketball, beach volleyball, boxing, cricket, football, futsal, netball, pétanque, table tennis and volleyball.