14 Dec 2009

Solomons and New Zealand sign off on multi million dollar education support

4:07 pm on 14 December 2009

New Zealand and Solomon Islands have signed a three year funding arrangement, worth 21 million US dollars, to improve the quality of basic education and to ensure all Solomon Islands children can go to school.

The Solomons Government says, with help from New Zealand, good progress has been made over the past six years in extending basic education.

In a statement it says enrolments at primary level have lifted by 30 percent, nearly 300 classroom blocks have been built and 1,850 teachers trained.

It says this additional funding will be directed at achieving equitable access to education and improving the quality of that education.

The Minister of Education, Matthew Wale, says his Government will devote a significant part of its budget to education, but it also needs the support of donors to succeed with its National and Provincial Education Action Plans.