8 Jun 2004

New Zealand and European Commission support Solomons education programme

11:06 am on 8 June 2004

New Zealand is sending 80 container loads of school books to Solomon Islands as part of its multi-million dollar commitment to boosting the country's education services.

The European Commission and the New Zealand Government signed an MOU as part of a joint programme under which more than 20 million US dollars will be provided for basic education over a three-year period.

The New Zealand Foreign Minister, Phil Goff, says that 56 containers of school books are already in Honiara and another 24 are on the way.

"They are packed full of of text books on English and mathematics to give every child in 593 schools in this country a standard text in the basic equipment and material they need for their education."