Relief supplies including boxes of UNICEF High Performance Tents stored at the MSG building in Gizo.
Emergency tents and education materials deployed to support schools reopening in Western Province
Emergency education materials including 20 high performance tents, for temporary classrooms, have arrived in Gizo through UNICEF as direct support to the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development’s (MEHRD) Cyclone Maila response in the Western Province.
According to data from the Provincial Education Provider, a total of 18 schools from early childhood to secondary schools have been directly affected in islands of Ranongga, Simbo and Vella La Vela, impacting 1,741 students.
Many schools across the region are now closed, and with the provision of these high-performance tents as temporary classrooms, schools can resume classes for students as assessments and disaster response in impacted areas continues.
“The Ministry of Education is pleased to be collaborating with UNICEF in establishing temporary classrooms across the impacted regions in Western and Choiseul Province.
“By re-establishing a daily routine and helping to restore a sense of normalcy, schools become therapeutic spaces in the aftermath of this natural disaster. They also help families get back on their feet,” said Hon. Stephen Kumi, Minister of Education, who is accompanying the Prime Minister and other Government Ministers on a reassurance visit to some of the impacted communities this week.
MEHRD and UNICEF and partners plan to open 20 temporary tent classrooms in Western Province and six in Choiseul Province which follow UNICEF quality standards in the areas affected by Cyclone Maila.
UNICEF’s tents have landed in the provincial capital Gizo on Saturday 23 May 2026, together with other emergency education materials, and are to be directly deployed to affected areas in Ranongga, Simbo and Vella La Vela in the coming days.
“The Ministry of Education is happy to work together with UNICEF and other development partners and Non-Government Organizations to restore schooling in the affected area in both Western Province and Choiseul Province,” Minister Kumi said.
So far, the six tents in Choiseul Province have been set up as temporary classrooms in 3 affected schools, the Chief Education Officer there, Mr. Henry Deva has confirmed.
The further 20 tents for Western Province will be deployed to 12 schools in the islands of Ranongga, Simbo and Vella La Vela.
This includes 16 High Performance tents (72m2), which ca accommodate 50-70 learners for learning continuity, and 6 High Performance tents (48m2) that accommodates 40-50 learners.
The 12 schools were identified after an initial assessment report conducted by Education Sector engineering teams who carried out detailed structural assessments of schools severely affected by Tropical Cyclone Maila in April.
These assessments are purposely to help MEHRD and partners determine which school buildings are safe, which require urgent repairs and which may need temporary learning spaces while recovery work continues.
The restoration of children’s access to education services is essential because it gives every child affected a fair chance of continuing their ongoing recovery and rebuilding their lives for the better in a safe and conducive environment.
Provincial Disaster Operating Centre (PDOC) Education Chairman, Willy Etupioh leading the allocation of education materials for affected schools in Western Province ready for distribution later this week.
Chief Education Officer for Western Province, Samuel Parubule and his officers sorting out allocations for schools.
Education Officials in Gizo, Western Province say 20 High Performance Tents and emergency education materials will be distributed to 12 affected schools in Ranongga, Simbo and Vella La Vela.
Provincial Disaster Operating Centre (PDOC) Education Chairman, Willy Etupioh.
Education officers and disaster relief workers in Gizo have been busy preparing relief supplies to be distributed to communities affected by Cyclone Maila.
High Performance Tents provided by UNICEF been offloaded from MV Fair King in Gizo and to be distributed to affected schools in Ranongga, Simbo and Vella La Vela.
MV Fair King arriving in Gizo carrying emergency education materials and High Performances Tents to use as temporary classrooms in schools affected by Cyclone Maila.