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EDUCATION SECTOR COORDINATION

Fiji Floods, January 2009

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Key Organisations Involved

Ministry of Education; EU; AusAID; NZAID; Fiji 

Water Trust; Save the Children; NDMO

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Impact on Education Sector

• Approximately 50,000 students affected by flooding

• 21 primary schools and 9 secondary schools with considerable 
infrastructural damage- over 40 schools requiring rehabilitation and repairs 

• Over 32 schools used as Evacuation Centres

• Infrastructural Damage & loss of teaching/learning materials

• Delay in start of school year- officially by 2 weeks (but longer for some 
communities)

• A majority of parents interviewed did not think their children would return 
by January 26

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, due to damage of schools and destruction of materials.

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RESPONSE

Within 4 Weeks

Fragmented coordination initiated in late January
An assessment undertaken by Ministry of Education
Prioritisation and funding mechanism for school rehabilitation 
and school grants (+ 41 schools)
Student learning materials provided to approx. 1500 students
Assistance with school bus fares & meals
Distribution of safe drinking water to schools

Within 8 Weeks

Installation of water tanks
Initiation of school renovation/reconstruction 

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Lessons Learned

• Need for greater understanding and agreement of cluster 

process/interface with existing sectoral coordination mechanisms. 
Value of ‘pre-disaster’ relationships with line Ministries.

• Importance of joint rapid assessment tools which go beyond 

infrastructural focus.

• Availability of “Pacific Specific” emergency education materials. 

Importance of long-term agreements on country-specific student 
learning packs.

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Communication- within Gov’t and external: “Back to School”

Campaign

• Greater attention to recreation and play within temporary 

shelter/evacuation centres

• Equity principles applied across response activities