Solomon Islands: Senior Secondary Education Improvement Project

Education / Secondary

Public sector management / Public administration

High susceptibility to climate and disaster risk. Solomon Islands is highly vulnerable to the adverse impacts of disasters and climate change and was ranked second highest in the world in relation to disaster risk in 2021._It is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area that has active volcanoes (many underwater) and frequent earthquakes. It is also susceptible to tropical cyclones, floods, and droughts._A large majority of the population live in low-lying coastal areas, affected by rising sea levels._Solomon Islands is expected to incur average annual losses of $20 million due to earthquakes and tropical cyclones._In the next 50 years, Solomon Islands is estimated to have a 50% chance of experiencing a single event loss from a tropical cyclone or earthquake exceeding $240 million (15% of gross domestic product) (footnote 4)._The National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPA) emphasizes that Solomon Islands has a low adaptive capacity to overcome the adverse effects of climate change and disasters, highlighting the need to strengthen human capacity (footnote 3).

Livelihoods at risk. Climate events and disasters disproportionately affect smallholder farming, particularly impacting women's earning capacities._Approximately 84% of Solomon Island's population is engaged in subsistence farming,_and 24.3% live in extreme poverty (below $1.90 per day) (2018)._The International Labour Organization (ILO) has found that most workers are self-employed or work within families with low income security, resulting in approximately 80% of the population facing vulnerable employment conditions (2018)._Labor force participation rate is 61% female to 74% male and more women are in vulnerable work._Climate events and disasters have disrupted key economic sectors (mining and agriculture), cutting formal employment (footnote 6)._Climate events and disasters place an increased burden on women and girls in rural areas of Solomon Islands with more women involved in subsistence agriculture work compared to men in rural areas._About 7 out of 10 Solomon Islanders are under 30 years._Unemployed and under-employed youth have increasingly moved to Honiara looking for work, and have contributed to rising tensions in the capital (footnote 7).

Moving towards greater resilience. Given high poverty rates, gender inequality, vulnerable employment, ethnic tensions, and the growing risks from climate change and disasters, the National Development Strategy 20162035 highlights the need for sustainable and inclusive economic growth (footnote 7). This includes reinvigorating productive and resource sectors to increase domestic and export earnings, as well as developing economic growth centers, particularly in rural areas. Expanding the economic base, with due consideration for climate and disaster risk, would help Solomon Islands become more resilient to shocks.

Improving education to create a strong enabling environment. Solomon Islands' economic growth is constrained by a long-term shortage of skilled workers, which is contributed to by low quality and limited accessibility of secondary education. Approximately, 90% of children attend early childhood and primary education in Solomon Islands, with 68% continuing their studies at junior secondary levels (grades 79) with 47% to 50% female students across grade levels. However, only 27% (28% female and 26% male) of the age-appropriate student population (i.e., net enrollment rate') enroll in senior secondary education (grades 1012)._Students continue to drop out during this stage and just 12% of girls and 14% of boys graduate at the end of grade 12. This leads to low participation in tertiary education, and technical and vocational education and training (TVET), with only 3% of the population having attended any post-secondary studies.

Addressing challenges in education and incorporating climate and disaster resilience. There is a lack of school places in senior secondary levels (there are 269 secondary schools nationally, but only 41 offers up to year 12). Teaching quality is a concern that results in poor learning outcomes, and there are gender disparities in enrollment and graduation rates. School fees and associated costs can also be a constraint for some families (there are fee-free policies implemented in primary and junior secondary levels, but fees for senior secondary education is at the discretion of school management). The curriculum taught in senior secondary education was developed by the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) more than 20 years ago, with a focus on academic subjects required for university entrance, with little practical application for those students not going to university._In 2020, MEHRD developed a new framework for senior secondary education, which seeks to make learning more practical with a stronger focus on preparing students for future work and further learning._The framework identifies the need for new collaboration mechanisms with private sector employers, universities, and TVET providers, particularly to move toward climate-resilient jobs in targeted sectors. NAPA highlights the importance of developing curricula and supporting teacher training to incorporate climate change and disaster risk reduction but underlines that school infrastructure assets are also increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of climate events and disasters (footnote 3)._Improvements to senior secondary education will contribute to the enabling environment that supports a shift towards a climate-resilient economic base.

All Solomon Islanders will develop as individuals and possess the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to earn a living and to live in harmony with others and their environment

More senior secondary students are equipped to be climate-smart, employable, and adaptable lifelong learners

Quality of learning in senior secondary education improved

Climate and disaster-resilient facilities and quality learning equipment for senior secondary education expanded

National and secondary school management strengthened