Strengthening Professional Learning for Early Childhood Teachers in Fiji

Childhood Education International is working with partners in Fiji to design and pilot Yavu Duavata (“Foundations Together”), a hybrid professional development model that expands access to high-quality, ongoing learning for early childhood educators—particularly those working in rural, remote, and maritime communities.

Supported by the World Bank and developed in partnership with Fiji National University (FNU), the Fiji Early Childhood Teachers’ Association (FECTA), and in close collaboration with the Fiji Ministry of Education, the project begins with the experiences and expertise of Fijian educators themselves. Through consultation and co-design, the team is exploring how professional learning can respond to challenges such as distance, connectivity, access to resources, and opportunities for ongoing mentoring and support.

Rather than relying on a single delivery method, Yavu Duavata will test a flexible hybrid approach that combines face-to-face engagement with accessible digital and offline learning opportunities. The pilot will help identify practical, sustainable ways to strengthen professional learning across Fiji while generating insights that may also inform approaches in other rural, remote, and island communities throughout the Pacific.