Hunanawa Community High School (CHS) on Small Malaita received a new classroom building on Thursday, 6 March 2025.
This new facility provides a safe and conducive learning environment for the remote school in Ward 20, a coastal community along the Maramasike passage in East Are Are.
The classroom building was funded by the Australian and New Zealand governments through the Education Sector Support Program (ESSP) in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD).
The classroom, valued at SBD$1,476,892, is an investment in the future of the school and the entire Hunanawa community.
The facility addresses the immediate needs of students and teachers and lays the foundation for educational growth.
The school hosted a special handover ceremony attended by representatives of the Malaita Provincial Government, the Australian High Commission, New Zealand High Commission, and MEHRD, as well as school staff, students, and community members.
“Our goal in this partnership is to help all Solomon Islands Children get a better education” said Rod Hilton, Australian High Commissioner to Solomon Islands.
New Zealand High Commission Representative Sammy O’Hara in her speech reflected on the relevance of the Māori proverb ‘Nāku te rourou, nāu te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi’ meaning “with my basket and with your basket, the people will prosper”, emphasizing that New Zealand is committed to improving access to quality education for all children in Solomon Islands, especially those in rural areas.
Manager of Assets Management at MEHRD, Steve Urariua acknowledged the governments of Australia and New Zealand and their dedication to working with MEHRD to transform education in the Solomon Islands.
“To our students, this project is for you,” Urariua said.
“We hope that having access to these facilities will help and encourage you to attend school regularly and to focus on your education,” he added.
“Remember, you are the future of your family, your community, this province, and our nation Solomon Islands.
“My heart felt appreciation to the Australian Government, the New Zealand Government, contractor and local community, and everyone who has contributed to making this project a success.
“Together we are making a lasting impact and look forward to the positive changes this initiative will bring,” he said.
Hunanawa CHS Principal Samuel Maetara thanked the development partners for gifting their community school the new classroom building and acknowledged MEHRD for their leadership in ensuring such critical education infrastructure for community schools in the provinces.
“This new classroom building will really help our school especially our year 10 students will use this new facility,” Maetara said.
“This new classroom building will not only benefit our community in Hunanawa but also the surrounding communities as their schools does not reach year 10.
“Education is the right of every child. So, when we provide them with such facilities, we address some of the issues faced by children and schools in our remote areas.
“Building such facilities on our own is very costly for us because of our remoteness and so we thank the Australia and New Zealand Governments,” he said.
ESSP is a partnership between the Solomon Islands, Australian, and New Zealand governments aiming to improve access to quality education for all Solomon Islands children.
The new classroom building demonstrates the partners’ ongoing dedication to providing quality education and fostering a culture of learning and growth within school communities in the Solomon Islands. –ENDS//
Cover Photo Caption: (Left to right) Principal Education Officer Malaita Province, Paul Dioko, Second Secretary at the New Zealand High Commission, Sammy O’Hara, Manager of Assets Management at MEHRD, Steve Urariua, Senior Program Manager Education at the Australian High Commission, Brenda Mauli and the Principal of Hunanawa CHS, Samuel Maetara cutting the ribbon to officially open the new classroom building at Hunanawa CHS.