The Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD), in partnership with Cognition Education Limited is undertaking a Senior Secondary Education Curriculum Writers Induction Workshop, marking a major step forward in the redesign of senior secondary education in the Solomon Islands.
The workshop, held at the Mokolo Building from 21–24 April, brought together Solomon Islands curriculum experts, education leaders, and around 20 leading curriculum experts from Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Canada, to support this important national undertaking.
The workshop was delivered under the Senior Secondary Education Improvement Project, funded by the Solomon Islands Government through a loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Cognition Education Ltd of New Zealand has been contracted to provide technical assistance to the MEHRD for the development of curriculum resources to support teaching and learning for Years 10 to 12.
Officially opening the workshop, Permanent Secretary Dr Franco Rodie said the initiative represents much more than a curriculum review, describing it as an investment in the future of Solomon Islands learners and the nation as a whole.
“Let us work together to ensure that when students complete Year 12 in the Solomon Islands, they are not only ready for examinations, but ready for life—equipped with practical skills and the confidence to contribute meaningfully to their communities and the nation,” Dr Rodie said.
Dr Rodie further emphasised that the redesigned curriculum will deliberately integrate knowledge, skills, values and attitudes, while also recognising the importance of indigenous knowledge, climate change and resilience, inclusion, equity, student wellbeing and national development.
Dr Rodie also stated that the revised senior secondary education curriculum is expected to promote stronger competencies in critical and creative thinking, communication and collaboration, digital literacy, practical and vocational learning, civic and ethical responsibility, and environmental stewardship.
It will also support the introduction of “Living Sustainably” as a core learning area to help learners respond to real national and global challenges.
The reform is expected to modernise learning content, strengthen relevance to the Solomon Islands context, and better prepare students for further education, employment, entrepreneurship and responsible citizenship.
Dr Rodie added that the review of the senior secondary education curriculum is both timely and necessary, noting that the existing curriculum has not undergone a comprehensive review for some time.
Over the four-day induction workshop, participants will engage in collaborative planning, technical discussions and guided learning sessions to establish a strong foundation for the curriculum writing process and the development of high-quality learning materials.
MEHRD acknowledges the support of the Solomon Islands Government, ADB, Cognition Education and all national and international curriculum specialists contributing to this important reform effort.
The Ministry views this work as a major milestone in strengthening the quality, relevance and future-readiness of secondary education in the Solomon Islands.
– MEHRD
