Gela IIau Community High School (CHS) in Central Province was established in 2006. At that time, the school did not have safe accommodation for its female students.
Fast forward 17 years, thanks to a new girls’ dormitory and ablution block constructed in 2022 under the Education Sector Support Program (ESSP), the school is experiencing a surge in female student enrolment. This change highlights the program’s commitment to creating safer and more inclusive learning environments across the Solomon Islands.
The ESSP, a partnership between the governments of Australia, New Zealand, and the Solomon Islands Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD), has supported schools like Gela IIau CHS by investing in critical education infrastructure, empowering students, and improving gender equality in education.
Since 2019, ESSP has increased access to quality basic education through delivering new and refurbished education infrastructure. To date, ESSP has successfully scoped, designed and constructed 39 school infrastructure projects, valued at approximately SBD66.9 million.
These projects directly benefit an estimated 17,510 students (8,670 female and 8,840 male) and 827 teachers, removing barriers and improving access to quality education for thousands of students across all provinces.
“Investing in education provides many life-long benefits, creating more opportunities and resulting in better health, better employment, higher income and even greater life expectancy” said Rod Hilton, Australian High Commissioner to Solomon Islands.
New Zealand High Commissioner Jonathan Curr added that “access to safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environments throughout Solomon Islands has been a key objective for this education partnership. The promotion of physical and mental wellbeing at school for girls and boys across the country has a significant impact on learning”.
These education infrastructure projects range from girls’ and boys’ dormitories and ablution blocks to classrooms, science laboratories and dining halls.
ESSP remains committed to improving access to quality education for all children, especially in rural and remote areas of the country. The program works with communities to address gender equality challenges by investing in school infrastructure, including the development of safe boarding facilities and inclusive sanitation to meet the needs of all students.
These initiatives align with the overarching goals outlined in the National Education Action Plan (NEAP) 2022-2026 and the Education Act 2023, showcasing our shared commitment to fostering inclusivity, equity and increased education participation across Solomon Islands.
In addition to education infrastructure, ESSP has delivered professional training and development to 45% of all teachers in Solomon Islands, enabling 531 previously uncertified teachers to complete formal teaching qualification. ESSP also played a key role in supporting MEHRD to successfully pass the 2023 Education Act, as well as printing and distributing approximately 80,000 much-needed textbooks to schools around Solomon Islands.
These collective achievements highlight the transformative impact of ESSP in advancing education across Solomon Islands. By enhancing infrastructure, empowering educators, and ensuring better access to learning resources, ESSP continues to drive meaningful progress toward creating a more equitable and inclusive education system. Working together under ESSP, Solomon Islands, Australia and New Zealand remain dedicated in our mission to improve education for all children building the foundations of a brighter future for the nation.
– ESSP
