The Ministry of iTaukei Affairs is advancing projects to weave traditional knowledge into Fiji’s school curriculum, Acting Deputy Secretary-Policy Joeli Ditoka announced at the Pacific Regional Tripartite Employment Conference in Nadi. He emphasized that reviving indigenous values through education would foster cohesion by strengthening collaboration between the Ministry of Education and traditional authorities. “Because one side effect of colonisation has been that we’ve forgotten these values that actually are very valuable,” Ditoka said, stressing the need to bring these time-honoured principles back to the fore in teaching methods and in programs such as those championed by iTaukei Affairs deputy CEO Josua Toganivalu addressing schools.
Ditoka also warned that the climate crisis and job insecurity threaten cultural and social cohesion. He noted that eco-grief is a real challenge, and that mentally and culturally informed adaptation strategies can bolster community resilience.
The move to integrate traditional knowledge into formal education aligns with broader efforts to harness Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) as a practical toolkit for climate adaptation and disaster preparedness. By linking ancestral wisdom with contemporary curricula, Fiji aims to empower communities to respond more effectively to environmental and economic pressures while preserving cultural identity for future generations. This approach also complements ongoing conversations about revitalizing iTaukei language and history within schooling, and it resonates with regional calls to strengthen local governance and youth leadership through cultural education and community-based programs.
Contextually, observers say these initiatives reflect a hopeful trend toward a cultural renaissance that pairs heritage with modern science to bolster resilience. As Fiji continues to champion indigenous knowledge in public life, the potential for regional leadership in climate action and disaster readiness grows, with communities poised to benefit from a more integrated approach to development.
Summary: Fiji is pushing to embed traditional knowledge into schooling to strengthen climate resilience, cultural cohesion, and community empowerment, while fostering closer collaboration between education authorities and indigenous communities. The shift aims to revive valuable values forgotten during colonization and to equip the next generation with both cultural identity and practical skills to navigate climate and economic challenges.
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