From a total of 22 secondary schools in 2022, this year (2023), there are 10 schools taking SPFSC from two Pacific Island countries, namely Kiribati and Tuvalu. Due to the high success of the SPFSC processes and outcomes in the past years, the Vanuatu government with the support of EQAP, is having their own national implementation of their Year 13 qualification in 2023. The governments of the PICs rely on the South Pacific Form Seven Certificate programme as their entry-level qualification to university or employment.
The need for a regional qualification arose when the New Zealand University Entrance programme was withdrawn. At the time, most island nations relied on this NZ course as the entry qualification for further studies or work. The regional SPFSC qualification was thus created to support the countries that, for varied reasons, believed their young people were best served through this approach.
Initially, five Pacific Island countries offered the SPFSC programme. The total student enrolment then was well below 500. More than a decade has passed since schools from Samoa and Tonga have withdrawn after their countries implemented their own Year 13 programmes. Currently, despite the reduced number of schools, the total student enrolment in the SPFSC programme is significantly high with a total of 1469. This number is more than the enrolment for 2021 and the years before.
For the first time in 2022, the SPFSC examination fees for all the 3 countries was paid directly through donor funding scheme. Many students would have discontinued their education if the Australian Government had not responded affirmatively to redirect its innovation funds to assist the vulnerable SPFSC students, especially in Vanuatu and Kiribati.
List of SPFSC Schools
- Motufoua Secondary School, Tuvalu
- Chevalier College, Kiribati
- Kauma Adventist College, Kiribati
- King George V EB School, Kiribati
- Moroni High School, Kiribati
- Sacred Heart College, Kiribati
- St Louis High Schook, Kiribati
- Stephen Whitmee High School, Kiribati
- Teabike College, Kiribati
- William Goward Memorial College, Kiribati