GOVERNMENT through the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development is currently distributing agriculture equipment and tools to schools nationwide.
A statement from the government communication unit said this project worth around SB$12.2 million is being funded by the Australian and New Zealand governments under their budget support.
It involves distributing pre-packed agriculture equipment and tools consisting of 21 different items to more than 200 secondary schools across the nine provinces of the country.
With the distribution of these tools and equipment the project is expected to solve the sever problem of the lack of basic tools and equipment in 4 practical subjects offered at the secondary level.
The subjects are agriculture, home economics, technology and science. This initiative will in turn assist teachers to effectively deliver the curriculum in their respective schools.
To ensure the tools and equipment can be used in the long term, an effective monitoring measure will be undertaken by the ministry.
This involves requirements for schools to report stock checks of all the tools and equipment received before annual school grants for the following year can be released.
Minister for education Dick Ha’amori said the ministry is looking to finalize the distribution phase of the project by June this year.
“We are looking at completing the delivery of the tools and equipment to all schools across the country before students begins their midday holidays next month. This is an important initiative which will also assist the ministry,” said Mr Ha’amori.
Australian High Commissioner to Solomon Islands Andrew Byrne said Australia is proud to be supporting the tool and equipment project.
“We are happy to be supporting this important project which will help the Ministry to achieve the objectives of its Basic Education Policy and its strategy goal on ‘Quality Education as stated in its NEAP 2010-2012,” Mr Byrne said.
Meanwhile the New Zealand High Commissioner Marion Crawshaw said the New Zealand Government is happy to be funding an initiative that will allow some of the secondary schools in the country to teach new syllabuses in these four practical subjects in a practical way.
“These four subjects need tools and equipment unlike other academic subjects that need fewer tools. This will allow students to undertake hands on practical training, balancing out practical with academic subjects, while at the same time fulfilling the integration of the Ministry’s TVET Policy into the formal school system.” Ms Crawshaw said.
