The Ministry of Education is working to strengthen the local education system by reopening the Teacher Development Centre (TDC), which has lacked a formal teacher training institution since 2005.

Secretary of Education Owen Lewis confirmed that Mona Ngaau, former principal of Tereora College, will head the Centre, overseeing the training of new educators and the development of in-service teachers.

Lewis told Cook Islands News that the opening of the TDC, scheduled for January 30, marks a key initiative in this year’s educational focus.

“One of our big focuses this year is getting the Teacher Development Centre up and running,” Lewis said.

“We’ve got 15 or 16 young people that are coming through at the first intake.”

Ngaau’s experience as the former principal of Tereora College makes her well-equipped to lead the Centre, and the Ministry is confident in her ability to guide this new initiative.

“We’re hoping that Mona will be able to grow this little baby and we’ll see how that goes,” Lewis said.

The TDC will offer a much-needed training programme for both aspiring teachers and those already in service.

“The Teacher Development Centre will be working to build on the capabilities of the teachers that are already in service,” Lewis added, highlighting the Centre’s role in upskilling current educators alongside the training of new recruits.

The decision to reopen the Teacher Development Centre is part of a broader plan to address the challenges of recruiting qualified teachers from overseas.

“It’s becoming harder by the day,” said Lewis. “We knew we had to do something.”

Cook Islands faces a critical need to develop its own teachers, as relying on external recruitment has proven increasingly difficult, particularly in light of the growing demand for educators globally.

“We can’t compete in the market for a lot of reasons, but financially is one of them,” Lewis explained.

As part of a solution, the Ministry has partnered with Waikato University in New Zealand to offer a Bachelor of Teaching programme.

This approach, which will see local teachers graduate with a degree in three years, aims to provide a quicker and more practical route to certification than previous programmes.

The programme, under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Waikato University, will begin with this year’s cohort, with another group expected to enrol in 2026.

Lewis emphasised that if the arrangement doesn’t meet expectations, they will consider alternative providers.

“At the end of the day, you put something in place, you review it, and if it’s not working you change it again.”

In addition to the student cohort, the Ministry has also made changes to the way in-service teacher development will be delivered. Rather than sending advisors out to schools, teachers will be brought in to the TDC to receive direct support.

Lewis also explained that the new structure would not incur additional costs.

“It will be financially neutral in terms of what we’re doing,” he said.

In addition to the training programmes, the TDC will focus on improving the quality and standards of teaching across the country.

Lewis also acknowledged the challenge of retaining local graduates who may seek opportunities abroad.

“As soon as someone’s registered with a degree and a New Zealand teacher registration certificate, there’s a chance they’ll move on too,” he said.