UNESCO. General Conference; 30th; Records ... - unesdoc - Unesco

Government’s Education Sector Plan for 2000-2010 has given priority to Early Childhood Education, Non-
Formal or Adult Education and the restructuring and redefining of the basic formal education system. In all three
priority areas targeted, the Government sees teacher training, curriculum production and distribution, and the
upgrading and expansion of infrastructures as imperative and of paramount importance. The primary long-term
goal of the plan is to provide an affordable, relevant and high standard of basic education for all Solomon
Islanders regardless of age, gender, religion, ethnic background or geographical area of origin. The Government
of the Solomon Islands believes strongly that only through educating its population will the country have skilled
manpower, entrepreneurs and informed leaders who will be able to develop its resources equitably and
sustainably, improve the welfare of its people, sustain the Solomon Islands’ unique way of life and protect its
independence and sovereignty.
30.6 The current issues in education include access, equity, quality, efficiency and coordination. The plan
will therefore focus on the following priority areas for the next 10 years: upgrading and improving the standard
and quality of curriculum programmes, facilities, instructors/lecturers and awards on the non-formal sector,
especially at the Rural Training Centres (RTC) of which there are more than 50 throughout the country, with
efforts concentrated on the 10 already identified Rural Training Centres; providing assistance and strengthening
of the country’s Early Childhood Education System, with teacher training, curriculum production and distribution
and management treated as major priorities; progress towards universal access to a full ten years of basic
education partly by expanding lower secondary places through the establishment of more Day Junior Secondary
Schools, providing more opportunities for girls, whose current participation is low and taking Junior Secondary
Schooling to the villages so as to increase their participation; enhancing the quality of basic activities and
encouraging the development and use of an appropriate language of instruction; expanding literacy activities and
encouraging the development and use of appropriate methods; increasing the access rate to senior secondary
education, that is to say grade 10 or form 5, to at least 50% by 2010 by phasing out Junior Secondary Education
in rationally selected schools in particular areas; continuing to support the Solomon Islands College of Higher
Education by upgrading its facilities and increasing its capacity; and lastly, in regard to management, the
objective in the education sector plan is to improve management and coordination in accordance with the
Education Policy and Administrative Handbook.
30.7 Madam President, about 80% of the population are rural dwellers and are engaged in the non-formal
sectors of the economy. Given the 48% dropout rate at the end of six years of primary education, the only way
known to my Government (to date) is to provide or encourage opportunities for skills training in our non-formal
education sector. With this in mind, my Government has identified 10 Rural Training Centres for upgrading,
where priority will be given to facilities and equipment, curriculum development, production and distribution,
and the training of instructors and lecturers. I can only hope, distinguished colleagues, that the importance of this
scheme will find a room in the heart of your means.
30.8 Yes, this education plan is probably over-ambitious. However, they are vital priorities for the Solomon
Islands. As a matter of policy and to ensure that the plan is successfully implemented and sustained, it will be
financed in partnership with all major players involved in the country. These partners include the Solomon
Islands Government, the education authorities (provincial governments, churches and individuals), local
communities and users. The reform system of allocating public funds to schools will be implemented through the
community standard formula. In this formula, the Government will endeavour to pay 90% of the total grant at
primary level, 70% at junior secondary level and 50% at upper secondary level and still less for tertiary and
vocational education after upgrading. It is my sincere plea that with the help of this well-informed agency of the
United Nations we will carry through the plan in the first decade of the next millennium.
30.9 Distinguished Director-General and delegates, the Solomon Islands is happy to have been a party to
many United Nations conventions and treaties and in particular to those related to UNESCO. The Solomon
Islands is grateful to be a member of this global family and we are honoured that one national heritage site at
Lake Tigoa in Rennell and Bellona Province has been listed. The Solomon Islands is also grateful and honoured
by your acceptance of Sir Peter Kenilorea KMCG, a former Prime Minister, as a member of the good governance
commission. At this juncture I wish to confirm the candidacy of the Honourable Alfred Sasako MP and Minister
of State, assistant to the Prime Minister for election to the IPDC Commission. We will need your support. The
Solomon Islands as a member of UNESCO looks forward to participating fully in all programmes initiated by
this specialized agency in the next millennium. I would also like to record my Government’s indebtedness to our
UNESCO Office in Apia, its Director and her staff and to the UNESCO PROAP Office in Bangkok, Thailand.
For all your assistance in the past up to now, I can only say, TAGIO TUMAS.
30.10 Finally but not the least, eminent delegates, I wish now on behalf of the head of the Executive
Government of the Solomon Islands and the nation to pay tribute and record our thanks and gratitude to
Mr Federico Mayor, the outgoing Director-General of UNESCO, who has indeed been a great leader and an
inspiration. I join all the others in congratulating him for a job well done during his tenure of office. We are
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