Agendas, aspirations, education and English language teaching in Kiribati

Economic liberalisation along with privatisation of services and institutions, of which education is one, is the precursor to aid-dependent economies where policy decisions are often influenced by conditions associated with aid. Countries that rely on regular monetary aid from wealthy donors for sustenance usually succumb their economic, social and educational policies to donor agendas. Kiribati, a Pacific Island state, is no exception. For example, pressures exerted by the donors have accelerated the structural adjustment policies in Kiribati and other Pacific Island states which suggests that economic liberalisation of these countries is currently on the agenda. In the field of education, these adjustments, among other initiatives, strive to prioritise the use of English over the vernacular where proficiency in English is becoming an increasingly important criterion for employment. Locals (i-Kiribati – People of Kiribati), however, tend to show strong resistance due to powerful attachments to their local community values. In this chapter, I highlight these issues in relation to the tensions experienced by the i-Kiribati in their efforts to keep local aspirations afloat.