Wallis and Futuna Islands

From Researching Virtual Initiatives in Education

By Paul Bacsich

For entities in Wallis and Futuna Islands see Category:Wallis and Futuna Islands

The Wallis and Futuna Islands, in short Wallis and Futuna, officially the Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands (French: Wallis et Futuna, Territoire des îles Wallis et Futuna, Fakauvea and Fakafutuna: Uvea mo Futuna), is a Polynesian French island territory (but not part of, or even contiguous with, French Polynesia) in the South Pacific between Fiji and Samoa.

It is made up of three main volcanic tropical islands and a number of tiny islets. The territory is split into two island groups lying about 260 km apart:

• Wallis Islands (Uvea), in the north - mainly Wallis Island (Uvea)
• Hoorn Islands (Futuna Islands), in the south - comprising mainly Futuna and Alofi

Since 2003 Wallis and Futuna has been a French overseas collectivity (collectivité d'outre-mer, or COM). Between 1961 and 2003, it had the status of a French overseas territory (territoire d'outre-mer, or TOM).

The population of Wallis and Futuna is just over 13,000.

The capital (and largest city) is Mata-Utu.

Education

As one commentator puts it, "education is hardly a sophisticated affair", but it is compulsory for children aged between 6 and 16. The main education medium in village schools is French. Primary school lasts for 5 years. Each village has a primary school run by the state. Primary education is much desired by parents, but classes are large and attendance is irregular because children, usually girls, are expected to meet home commitments as well as get an education.

There is a general expectation that children attend a lower secondary school for a period of several years, although these can be difficult to commute to, for children living in remoter rural areas. Students aspiring to senior secondary education go to New Caledonia or French Polynesia instead, or even France, where they can study at tertiary levels too.

Higher education is available in New Caledonia, France, and Australia, but graduates have difficulty finding jobs and adjusting to life back home.

A post secondary programme of two years duration was established in the islands in 1990.

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