More than 1,300 students of Honiara Senior High School (HSHS) now have access to clean water, improved sanitation, and hygiene facilities, thanks to a joint initiative between the Government of New Zealand and UNICEF, in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) and the Honiara City Council.
The new Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities were officially inaugurated on Wednesday in Honiara, highlighting the importance of care, dignity and a healthier future for students and teachers.
Speaking at the event, New Zealand High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, His Excellency Jonathan Curr, reaffirmed his government’s commitment to supporting children’s wellbeing and education in the Pacific.
“In September, we launch SBD300 million for 10-year investment in Solomon Islands here in this school. This is a complimentary assistance which New Zealand provides to improve WASH in schools in Guadalcanal Province,” said High Commissioner Curr.
He said New Zealand is proud to stand with UNICEF and the Solomon Islands Government to help ensure schools provide a safe, inclusive and resilient learning environment for every child.
UNICEF Pacific Solomon Islands Chief of Field Office Officer In-charge, Abdiweli Osman Mohamed emphasized that clean water and safe toilets are a child’s right, not a privilege.
“Behind every statistic are real children—students who miss class because of a lack of safe toilets, girls who skip school due to the absence of private spaces to manage menstruation, and teachers who struggle to maintain clean and healthy classrooms,” Mr Mohamed said.
“This initiative is about restoring dignity, improving learning outcomes, and ensuring that every child can thrive in a safe and healthy school environment.”
Permanent Secretary (PS) for the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development, Dr Franco Rodie urged HSHS students to be WASH champions and use the facilities with great care.
“Remember, how you treat your school reflects how you value your education. If you respect your surroundings, you respect yourself, your parents, your teachers, your community and your beloved country Solomon Islands.
“Your actions will decide whether these facilities will last many more years to come. Let your legacy be one of respect and pride.”
The NZD 2.9 million partnership between the Government of New Zealand and UNICEF aims to improve WASH facilities in 20 schools across Honiara and Guadalcanal Province, ensuring that more children have access to clean water, gender-friendly toilets, and handwashing facilities with soap and water.
According to a 2019 WASH in Schools survey by MEHRD and UNICEF, only one in ten schools in Solomon Islands had access to basic toilets, and just 31 percent had reliable access to clean drinking water.
The partnership seeks to close this gap through climate-resilient and child-friendly infrastructure, as well as community training for maintenance and hygiene promotion.
By the end of the programme, over 4,000 students and 190 teachers are expected to benefit from improved WASH facilities, with 20 schools meeting national WASH standards.
“Clean water and safe toilets should never be a privilege—they are every child’s right,” the UNICEF Solomon Islands Chief of Field Office Officer In-charge added. “Together with the Government of New Zealand, we are turning that right into a reality for children across the Solomon Islands.”
By ANDRIANAH DELASALET KOLE.
Solomon Star, Honiara.
