MEHRD Minister Hon. Stephen Kumi and Malaita Premier Hon. Elijah Asilaua, holding the signed Agency Agreement between MEHRD and the Malaita Provincial Government.
MEHRD and Malaita Provincial Government Signs Agency Agreement to Strengthen Education Services
(L-R) MEHRD Director Corporate Services Coldrin Kolae, MEHRD Minister Hon. Stephen Kumi, Malaita Premier Hon. Elijah Asilaua and Malaita Provincial Secretary George Eric, posing with the signed Agency Agreement between MEHRD and the Malaita Provincial Government.
MEHRD Minister Hon. Stephen Kumi receiving a traditional gift from the Malaita Premier Elijah Asilaua.
Auki, 21 August 2026 – The Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development (MEHRD) and the Malaita Provincial Government signed the Agency Agreement and Provincial Education Board Agreement at the Malaita Provincial Chamber in Auki. This is the third signing, after Makira province and Western province.
The ceremony was attended by Hon. Elijah Asilaua, Premier of Malaita Province, Hon. Steve Kumi, Minister of MEHRD, senior officials, donor representatives, education partners, and Honourable Members of the Malaita Provincial Government (MPG). The presence of the MPG members was especially fitting, as they were in Auki for a two-week programme under the Provincial Government Strengthening Programme (PGSP), making the signing ceremony even more memorable.
In his remarks, Hon. Kumi stated that the occasion represented a shared commitment between the National Government and the Malaita Provincial Government to strengthen education services and improve opportunities for children and young people in Malaita Province.
He reaffirmed the Government for Reform, Empowerment, Accountability and Transformation’s vision that education must be accessible to every child, regardless of where they live or their circumstances and emphasized that education is a fundamental right and one of the nation’s most important investments.
The agreements also signal MEHRD’s continued support to Malaita Province as it takes on education provider responsibilities. Through the Agency Agreement, MEHRD will provide technical and operational support to the Malaita Education Provider Office, including support for school operations, teacher management, capacity strengthening and regular joint reviews to identify challenges early and provide assistance where needed.
Hon. Kumi announced that an additional four positions will be allocated to the Malaita Education Provider Office to help strengthen provincial education services, made possible through MEHRD’s partnership with MFAT under the Waka fo Edukeson programme. He also highlighted planned support for Malaita, including nine new education projects in 2027 and the proposed construction of a new Education Complex in Malaita as a hub for education development.
The establishment of the Malaita Provincial Education Board was also described as an important step forward, bringing together the Provincial Government, churches, traditional leaders, education providers and stakeholders under one platform to advance education priorities that respond to Malaita’s unique needs, including technical and vocational education and training.
Following the signing, the Malaita Provincial Education Office and the Premier of Malaita Province presented several traditional “Tafuliae” red money to all MEHRD managers and guests. The gesture symbolised the sealing of the agreements and affirmed Malaita Province’s strong commitment to quality education, as well as its willingness to work with any government of the day to advance education development for its people.
The signing ceremony marked the first step of MEHRD and the Malaita Provincial Government, moving forward together to deliver better education for the children of Malaita for the future of Malaita.
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