The Community Education Training Centre is a regional residential training programme of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community’s (SPC) Social Division, based in Narere, Suva, Fiji Islands.   It has been providing non-formal, adult education-based training for community-based women leaders and development workers.  It was initially established in 1963 as a home economics training centre, a training venue for government officers, agriculturists, social welfare workers, women’s interest officers, home economists and volunteer personnel, whose work was to strengthen programmes related to the family and the community, supported by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the Australian National Committee of the Freedom from Hunger Campaign, in response to the lack of non-formal and vocation training opportunities for women in SPC member countries with a curriculum primarily on Home Economics, Food and Nutrition.  The focus in the 1980’s switched to Community Development and has continued to be adapted to meet evolving training needs of Pacific Island grassroots women in the context of advances in technology and knowledge pertinent to sustainable livelihoods.  The initial 11 months training course duration was also cut to 7 months due to a revised, more focused curriculum. 

CETC’s initial training facilities were located in Nabua where the current SPC Suva headquarters are (Fono’s bar).    It was relocated in 1986 to its current premises in Narere, Nasinu.  Further information on CETC can be obtained from the CETC Student handbook and the CETC Program Administration and training Guideline.

CETC is located at Narere, a semi-urban suburb of Suva, in the Fiji Islands.  Narere is about 20-25 minutes drive from the commercial city, Suva.  It is located along the main highway Kings Road, about 9 miles from Suva, and about 3 miles from Nausori Airport.