4 Dec 2007

Cook Islands looks at how to attract more qualified teachers

4:03 pm on 4 December 2007

The Cook Islands has to come up with creative ways to lure qualified teachers into the country.

The Cook Islands eduation secretary, John Herrmann, was in New Zealand last week for the Pacific Islands Forum Education Ministers' meeting.

He says one of the common struggles in the Pacific is attracting and retaining qualified teaching staff, especially when wages are higher in nearby countries like New Zealand.

"We've had to be innovative I suppose, in terms of trying to attract qualified people. For those that do come, there is the added attraction of a change in lifestyle, very pleasant climate, those are attributes which we will continue to underline."

John Hermann says there's been an encouraging response to the teachers recruitment drive this year.