Supporting The Public Sector of Vanuatu

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Education

Public spending on education was 6.6 per cent of GDP in 2008. Primary education, in French or English, is provided free of charge (with effect from 2010). Primary school comprises six years and secondary seven. Some 71 per cent of pupils complete primary school (2008). Vanuatu has an active non-formal education sector, mainly organised by community- and church-based non­governmental organisations, such as the Vanuatu Rural Development and Training Community Association, which provides vocational training in rural training centres. There are no national higher education institutions in Vanuatu, but the University of the South Pacific has a campus in Port Vila. Malapoa Teachers’ Training College and Tagabe Agricultural School provide tertiary education in their respective sectors. There is also a school of nursing.

 

Health

Public spending on health was three per cent of GDP in 2010. Malaria is widespread. Infant mortality was 11 per 1,000 live births in 2011 (141 in 1960). The Ministry of Health is responsible for the five public hospitals and one private hospital in Vanuatu. The two major referral hospitals are located in Port Vila and Luganville. The private health sector in Vanuatu is a recent development and private health insurance is not widely used. Health Sector Strategy 2010–16 outlines the aims of the Ministry of Health to actively engage in partnerships with the private sector, donor agencies and civil society groups to assist in improving the delivery of health services.

 

Transport

There are 1,070 km of roads, 24 per cent paved, most of which are on Efaté. Ferries link islands and shipping services, run by a number of operators, go to Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia. The main ports are Port Vila and Luganville.

The chief airports are at Bauerfield, near Port Vila, and Pekoa on Espíritu Santo Island. There are some 30 smaller airfields. There is no rail network in Vanuatu. The Vanuatu National Transport Development Plan outlines the government’s commitment to encouraging provinces, communities and the private sector to work together to provide and maintain transport assets and infrastructure.