Quality education and the role of the teacher in Fiji: mobilising global and local values

Crossley, Michael; Frances, Cresantia; Vaka�uta, Koya; McGrath, Simon; Thaman, Konai Helu; Waqailiti, Ledua

Abstract

This article reports on the findings of original field research carried out in the small island developing state of Fiji, in the South Pacific. A North-South research partnership was built upon previous collaboration between team members and, in so doing, pioneered the blending of Pacific and Western research approaches sensitive to a postcolonial positioning. The study interrogates practitioner perspectives on the nature and quality of teachers and teaching in Fiji; the challenges of teachers’ work and lives; priorities for successful qualitative reform; and theoretical implications for the processes of education policy transfer and qualitative improvement. The analysis draws upon work on the politics of aid and international development, revealing tensions between existing learner-centred policy frameworks and emergent neoliberal and performativity oriented initiatives influenced by international surveys of student achievement, related league tables and the experience of the regional reference societies of Australia, New Zealand and India.

Citation

Crossley, M., Frances, C., Vaka’uta, K., McGrath, S., Thaman, K. H., & Waqailiti, L. (2017). Quality education and the role of the teacher in Fiji: mobilising global and local values. Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education, 47(6), 872-890. https://doi.org/10.1080/03057925.2017.1338938

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 2, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Jun 28, 2017
• Publication Date: Jun 28, 2017
• Deposit Date: Jun 6, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 29, 2018
• Journal: Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education
• Print ISSN: 0305-7925
• Electronic ISSN: 1469-3623
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 47
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 872-890
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03057925.2017.1338938
• Keywords: Small Island Developing States (SIDS); teachers and teaching; quality education; education policy transfer; research partnerships; Pacific values and methodologies
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/868853
• Publisher URL: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03057925.2017.1338938
• Additional Information: This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in on Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education 28 June 2017, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/03057925.2017.1338938
• Contract Date: Jun 6, 2017