Recently, Andrew Gray commented on our post “AI Won’t Destroy Vanuatu — Ignoring It Might”, sharing a powerful insight that made me pause and really think about the future of education in Vanuatu. He highlighted something many of us are beginning to notice but haven’t openly said: Artificial Intelligence is now doing many of the tasks our schools train students to do — and it’s doing them better.

Essays, definitions, translation, reports — these tasks, once central to academic achievement, are now instantly and often more effectively handled by AI tools. I’ve tested it myself too. It’s true.

And that’s deeply worrying.

Because if we continue to focus our education system on those same tasks, what will happen to the thousands of students who spend 12 or 13 years preparing for jobs and tasks that may no longer exist or be valued?

It’s Time to Shift Our Priorities

Andrew Gray’s writing inspired me to think more deeply about what Vanuatu’s education should look like — not just today, but in the near future, when automation and AI are part of daily life.

Here’s what I believe we need to do:

• Invest in practical skills: Let’s teach students how to repair, build, grow food, fish, and work with their hands — skills that are useful in any economy.
• Value our culture and crafts: Our languages, stories, dances, carvings, mats, kastom knowledge — these are not just heritage, they are future livelihoods, tourism, identity, and even diplomacy.
• Develop human-to-human strengths: Empathy, communication, teamwork, negotiation — things AI will never feel or understand the way humans do.
• Support entrepreneurship: Many Ni-Vanuatu are already running small businesses. Schools should nurture those instincts, helping young people solve real-world problems creatively.

We’re Not Starting from Zero

One of the strengths of Vanuatu is that these values are already part of our communities. We don’t need to import them from outside — we just need to recognize their worth and bring them into the classroom.

Let’s be honest: our current education system is still shaped by colonial ideals. It trains students for desks and paperwork. But in 2025, the world is changing faster than any curriculum — and we must adapt quickly, before we’re left behind.

Lastly

I don’t write this as a criticism of our teachers or students. I write it as a challenge — and a hope. Let’s reimagine what education can be. Let’s help our young people grow into citizens who are not just “educated” on paper, but truly skilled, grounded, and ready for the future.

Thank you, Andrew Gray, for sparking this reflection. I hope more of us will join the conversation.

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Disclaimer: This blog post reflects my personal views inspired by a comment from Andrew Gray on my earlier article. The opinions expressed here are meant to encourage discussion about education priorities in Vanuatu and do not represent any official position. AI technologies and their impact are rapidly evolving, and ongoing dialogue is essential.