Education
Four students head to Japan for cultural exchange
Tuesday 11 March 2025 | Written by Talaia Mika | Published in Culture, Education, Local, National, Outer Islands
Four Cook Islands students are heading to Japan for a cultural exchange programme, where they will immerse themselves in Japanese culture while sharing their knowledge of Cook Islands culture.
Five Cook Islanders awarded counselling scholarships to boost community support
Tuesday 11 March 2025 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Education, Health, Local, National, Outer Islands
Five individuals from Rarotonga and Atiu received scholarships from Punanga Turuturu Itivaine to study counselling and improve community mental health support.
Ministry explores new strategies to enhance mathematics education
Monday 10 March 2025 | Written by Talaia Mika | Published in Education, National
The Ministry of Education is exploring new strategies to enhance mathematics education in the Cook Islands, following comments from New Zealand-based academic Professor Jodie Hunter, who emphasised the need for local context in teaching resources.
Mauke developer launches dream e-learning platform GalaxyMaps
Friday 7 March 2025 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Education, Local, National, Outer Islands
After six years in the making, Vaipunu Ian Tairea, a software developer, digital creator and educator in Mauke, has officially launched his custom-built digital platform, GalaxyMaps.
Local context key to math success, expert tells government
Monday 3 March 2025 | Written by Talaia Mika | Published in Education, Local, National
A leading mathematics education expert has urged the government to invest in developing its own teaching resources rather than relying on commercial textbooks from overseas publishers, warning that imported materials may not fully support students’ learning needs.
29 teachers leave: Mokoroa explains teacher shortage and declining results
Saturday 1 March 2025 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Education, National, Parliament
A significant teacher shortage, with almost 30 teachers leaving last year, is impacting the Cook Islands’ education system.
Tereora introduces new leadership model
Saturday 1 March 2025 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Education, National
The Princess Anne Hall echoed with uplifting song in a wonderful display of school spirit as hundreds of Tereora College students sang with pride to welcome their 30 new leaders.
Decline in reo Māori speakers addressed in Parliament
Friday 28 February 2025 | Written by Talaia Mika | Published in Education, National, Parliament
Minister for Education, Vaine ‘Mac’ Mokoroa has acknowledged that while language is important in the classrooms, it is also vital to remember that speaking reo Maori starts from home.
Schools umu competition hailed a success, set to become annual fixture
Tuesday 25 February 2025 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Education, National
The traditional slow steam cooking event not only retains nutrients and enhances taste, it brings together family, friends and the community, nurturing a sense of belonging and celebration while preparing and sharing a meal of soul food.
School roll swells, Apii Nikao inducts new prefects
Saturday 22 February 2025 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Education, National
Apii Nikao celebrated the induction of 20 student prefects, who will serve as role models and leaders, while the school’s enrolment has increased from 339 to 389 since January.
Apii Te Uki Ou prefects ready to lead
Friday 21 February 2025 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Education, Features, National
The newly inducted Apii Te Uki Ou student leaders were reminded to uphold the school’s values at all times and represent it with pride.
Dollars and sense: Autism Cook Islands students learn financial literacy
Thursday 20 February 2025 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Education, Local, National
Autism Cook Islands (ACI) has started their Term 1 programme teaching their transition group of seven students how to use money wisely.
Concerns on new Teacher Development Centre raised
Wednesday 19 February 2025 | Written by Talaia Mika | Published in Education, National
The recent opening of the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) Teacher Development Centre, housed in an upstairs space of Tereora College’s main building, has sparked concerns from some members of the community questioning the decision to repurpose it. Talaia Mika reports.
Students take on real-world challenges in Solve for Tomorrow competition
Wednesday 19 February 2025 | Written by Talaia Mika | Published in Education, National, Technology
The first phase of the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Innovation Challenge took place yesterday at Calvary Hall in Arorangi, bringing together young minds from across the Cook Islands to tackle real-world issues through design thinking.
Census reveals decline in Cook Islands Māori speakers in New Zealand
Saturday 15 February 2025 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Culture, Education, Features, National, Weekend
Despite a growing Cook Islands population in New Zealand, the number of Cook Islands Māori speakers is declining, raising concerns about the language’s future, and prompting calls for greater support for language revitalisation efforts.
Tereora celebrates student excellence at endorsement assembly
Saturday 15 February 2025 | Written by Talaia Mika | Published in Education, National
Tereora College yesterday held its annual Endorsement Assembly, acknowledging the hard work and dedication of its students.
Apii Avarua inducts 25 prefects
Saturday 15 February 2025 | Written by Talaia Mika | Published in Education, National
A total of 25 students, including 14 girls and 11 boys, were inducted as the 2025 prefects for Apii Avarua yesterday.
Prefects leading the way
Saturday 8 February 2025 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Education, Features, National, Weekend
Ten students from the Year 6 class of St Joseph’s Primary School were inducted as prefects yesterday during a beautiful opening of the school year and prefect investiture church service at St Joseph’s Cathedral, led by Bishop Reynaldo Getalado.
Passion for education: Mangaia’s daughters answer the call to teach
Saturday 1 February 2025 | Written by Talaia Mika | Published in Education, Features, National, Weekend
Driven by a passion for education and a desire to serve their community, two Mangaia teenagers are among the first trainees at the newly launched Cook Islands Teacher Development Centre.
Dream come true: Aspiring teachers join new training programme
Friday 31 January 2025 | Written by Talaia Mika | Published in Education, National
A 15-member cohort of aspiring teachers was welcomed yesterday by the Ministry of Education officials, coinciding with the official opening of the Cook Islands Teacher Development Training Centre.
