Thirty (30) teachers from Western Province have been awarded certificates after completing a week-long Physical Education (PE) capacity-building training in Gizo, which wrapped up on Friday.
The program was described as a milestone for both education and sports development in Western Province and Solomon Islands as a whole, drawing praise from participants, facilitators, and education leaders.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, National Sports Council (NSC) official and facilitator Atu Balekana, congratulated the teachers for their commitment throughout the week.
He encouraged them to apply their new skills in classrooms to inspire students to embrace active lifestyles.
“PE is about more than just sport—it is about building healthy, confident young people,” Mr. Balekana said.
“The responsibility now lies with you to take this training back to your schools and communities,’’ he added.
Western Provincial Sports Coordinator Ben Ndegu, also acknowledged the support of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) through the Ministry of Education and Shandong Foreign Trade Vocational College, who facilitated the program.
“We would like to thank our friends in China for their continuous support in making this training possible,” Mr. Ndegu said.
He further emphasized that PE should be made compulsory in both primary and secondary schools, noting that such training strengthens the curriculum and equips teachers to deliver quality lessons.
The Ministry of Education, the NSC, and the Western Provincial Government were recognized for their collaboration in organizing the training.
“Without this partnership, it would not have been possible to host this program in Gizo,” Mr. Ndegu added.
On behalf of the teachers Zima Kiko expressed appreciation for the knowledge and experience gained.
“Some of us may have gained weight from the delicious meals we enjoyed every day, but more importantly, we have gained valuable skills to take back to our schools,” she said.
She also thanked principals, head teachers, and communities for releasing teachers to attend the program, as well as women’s groups who catered throughout the training.
“To the teachers, remember to use what you have learned—even if only for one hour with your students. Continue to encourage them to stay active and put these skills into practice,” Kiko urged.
The training was led by Associate Professor Xu and Director Li from Shandong Foreign Trade Vocational College that is sponsored by Ministry of Commerce under People’s Republic of China (PRC) with more than 30 local PE teachers from Western Province participating.
Participants are hopeful that the success of this program will pave the way for further training opportunities, possibly even in China, to strengthen physical education in Solomon Islands schools.
By ULUTAH GINA
Solomon Star, Gizo
