MEHRD prioritize impacted schools in the aftermath of Cyclone Maila

The Government for Reform, Empowerment, Accountability and Transformation (GREAT) through the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) is prioritizing education in affected communities in Choiseul and Western Province as part of its disaster recovery efforts.

Minister of Education, Hon. Stephen Kumi was part of the Solomon Islands Prime Minister’s delegation that made a reassurance visit to some of the impacted communities in both provinces last week and witness firsthand the devastation caused by Tropical Cyclone Maila.

During the visit, Prime Minister Hon. Mathew Wale highlighted that his Government through MEHRD will repurpose funding from the development budget and support the Ministry have received for education infrastructure.

“This will enable us to prioritize schools in the affected areas in Western and Choiseul Provinces.

“We need to have schools affected in the two provinces back up so that our children and students can go back to school and continue with their education. This is very important,” the Prime Minister assured communities during his reassurance visit.

MEHRD with support from Australia has already conducted an impact assessment on schools damaged by Tropical Cyclone Maila in Western and Choiseul Provinces which will help the Education Ministry to determine which school buildings are safe, which require urgent repairs and which may need temporary learning spaces while recovery work continues.

Education Minister, Hon. Kumi reiterated that MEHRD remains committed to supporting schools, teachers, students, and education providers as recovery efforts continue across the two provinces.

“From the impact assessment report, we acknowledge that it will take good planning and a considerable amount of money to rebuild some of the education infrastructure damaged during the disaster.

“We will continue to work collaborative with our partners and NGOs in a well-coordinated manner to ensure students can continue their learning as soon as possible in a safe learning environment,” he said.

To facilitate emergency access to education, MEHRD in partnership with UNICEF has distributed high performance tents as temporary classrooms, 20 in Western Province and 6 in Choiseul Province, allowing education to continue for students in affected communities.

However, the priority is the recovery of educational infrastructure, supported by policy adjustments.

School students at Irigila village in Vella La Vela honoring the Solomon Islands

Minister of Education, Hon. Stephen Kumi meeting with teachers at Keara village, Ranongga.

Minister of Education, Hon. Stephen Kumi (left) handing over emergency education materials for the Irigila Secondary and Primary schools to the Principal and Head Master (centre). Accompanying the Minister is MEHRD’s Deputy Secretary Education Services, Christopher Sakiri (second from left), the Chief Education Officer for Western Province, Samuel Parubule (second from right) and the Minister of Education for the Western Provincial Government (far right).

Minister of Education, Hon. Stephen Kumi (left) handing over emergency education materials for the Keara Primary School during the reassurance visit to affected communities in Western Province