ALTHOUGH the 2023 academic year has commenced last week for most of the schools in Honiara, for most schools in Western Province, they are expected to start this week.
For many schools around Gizo and the nearby islands, last week was used as a registration week and clean-up week for them.
Western Provincial Education Authority was affected following the sudden passing away of the former Chief Education Officer (CEO) Late Hopeful Piosasa last month.
A replacement had been made but there are more works to be done to sort out teachers’ posting, transfers and appointments.
For some schools, an orientation was conducted on Monday morning.
Students of Gizo primary and secondary schools turned up at the school yesterday morning but were told classes are expected to start Tuesday.
Some boarding schools have started receiving students last week but formal classes are likely to commence this week because some of the teachers are yet to arrive.
Like last week, the Western Provincial capital was packed yesterday as students, parents and teachers rushed around to conduct their final shopping.
Most of them have been spotted visiting the shops to buy stationeries, uniforms, clothes and things like suitcase to pack their clothes.
Some parents have fronted the BSP Bank and the ATM to withdraw cash for school fees and also do their final shopping.
For most of the secondary school students, they will travel directly to their nearby schools from Gizo.
Some of the schools are Buri, Kukudu, Jones Adventist College (JAC), Patupaele, Vonunu, Sidoko, Goldie, Gizo Community High School and others.
Since Sunday night some of the students who have been placed to study at some of the schools in Western Province have arrived onboard MV Marina 2, Fair Lady and Fair Glory and travelled directly to their various schools as of Monday.
For secondary schools, only continuing students doing forms one, two, three and five are returning while forms four, six and seven will return once their results are released in a week or so.
A student who will attend Kukudu Adventist College this year said, she is looking forward to 2023 academic year.
However, one of the things currently hitting hard on the parents and students is the affordability to pay for this year’s school fee.
Most of the schools require about 60 to 70 percent of the year’s tuition must be paid in full upon registration and this is affecting many parents who struggling to afford the initial amount.
By MOFFAT MAMU
Solomon Star, Gizo
