HONIARA Senior High School (HSHS) is grappling with significant challenges due to an unprecedented rise in student enrollment, which has reached approximately 1,300 for the 2024 academic year.
This trend, which persisted over the past decade, is now straining the school’s resources, leading to overcrowded classrooms and heightened difficulties with student discipline.
In his speech at the school’s annual graduation and prize-giving ceremony last Thursday, Principal Allen Ketei, pictured, highlighted some challenges the school faced over the past 10 years and one of them is the issue of high student enrollment in the crucial years from Forms 4 to 7. As a senior high school, HSHS only offers Forms 4 to 7 classes.
“When we talk about classroom space, teaching and learning resources and student discipline, it has become increasingly challenging.
“The increase in student enrollment presents real difficulties in terms of classroom space and adequate teaching resources. Furthermore, managing student discipline becomes increasingly complex in an overcrowded environment,” he underscored.
Principal Ketei said this situation has been exacerbated by the suspension of major rehabilitation projects that were slated to improve school facilities after the devastating Honiara riots in 2021 which saw the partial burning down of some of its facilities.
“Financial constraints and other issues have put these essential projects on hold,” Mr Ketei told parents and graduands.
“This setback is a significant challenge for us as we operate a large school without the necessary facilities such as a library services, computer lab, proper ablution blocks, and an adequate administration building,” he added.
But despite these challenges, Principal Ketei highlighted that the school managed to sail through this academic year (2024), resulting in the graduation of a total of 956 students, which he said is a big achievement.
He added that the school also managed to successfully host its annual cultural day event this year and that this was an achievement for its 11 cultural ethnic groups from the country’s nine provinces.
By JIMMY NOLAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
