The “Helpem Smolwan Skul Gud” project aims to enhance literacy among primary school children in Western Province, providing a foundation for future literacy initiatives.
Through reading clubs, the distribution of quality educational materials, and active engagement with parents and the community to support children’s reading activities, the project is empowering schools in Gizo and surrounding communities.
It aims to foster a culture to build a culture of reading and learning success.
The” Helpem Smolwan Skul Gud” project was funded by a grant through the Education Sector Support Program (ESSP), a partnership between the Governments of Australia and New Zealand and the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) and implemented by Save the Children Solomon Islands.
The project aims to establish a sustainable culture of reading, improve literacy levels, and promote collaboration among local stakeholders, including the Provincial Education Authority and community members.
As part of the project, a series of reading competitions were organized, with notable participation from children across various grades.
The competition, held at Baguri School in September last year, involved 184 students, promoting enthusiasm for both reading and public speaking among participants.
Successful engagement with parents and community members resulted in 506 participants in the reading competition, creating a supportive environment for children’s literacy development.
Feedback from teachers indicates a growing awareness of the importance of literacy, with parents actively participating in their child’s education.
Gizo Primary School Principal, Mr. Dickson Nathan, expressed his admiration for the significant improvement in children’s confidence since the launch of the Save the Children project at the school.
“The project has been helpful in building the children’s confidence. It is so encouraging to see a little girl and boy from PPY standing in front of a crowd and delivering their speech confidently.
“We hope that this will motivate other schools and together we can develop our children,” he said.
Gizo Primary School Deputy Principal, Mr. Clifford Kasibolo said the project has helped establish a link between parents and teachers through the reading activities, as they see how their children have improved in reading.
“The project’s resources have engaged children with diverse abilities, sparking curiosity and enthusiasm for reading.
“Teachers have observed an increase in attendance as students are eager to participate in English reading activities,” he said.
A significant achievement of the project has been the establishment of five book banks in local schools, resulting in the distribution of 1,803 books.
This has provided essential resources for reading activities and equipping teachers with training on effective book management.
Ms. Mavete Masepitu from the Western Province Education Authority has observed a notable improvement in literacy rates in Gizo since the project’s implementation.
She said teachers feel more motivated and actively seek resources, recognizing the project’s impact on student literacy.
“The books have really boosted the learning of the children. You can see from the beginning there has been a big impact on their learning through these reading activities.
“For the book banks, discussions and training sessions were conducted with teachers and communities to prepare for book distribution and reinforce reading activities,” she said.
According to the project’s completion report, the project has had a positive impact on literacy in Western Province.
It has fostered a culture of reading among students, significantly improved parental engagement, and strengthened relationships between schools and the community.
Australia and New Zealand in partnership with MEHRD through the ESSP remain committed to improving access to quality education for all Solomon Islands children.
The ‘Helpem Smolwan Skul Gud’ partnership with Save the Children further highlights ESSP’s commitment in delivering a brighter and more inclusive future for Solomon Islands students.
- ESSP
