BY LESLEY FOINAGWA – FREELANCER
The Aoani Extension Early Childhood Education (ECE) has successfully registered under Buma Primary School in West Kwaio, Malaita province, but the community is now facing delays in securing full registration for its primary section.
Deputy Head teacher Ben Oloisae confirmed that the Aoani ECE is officially registered and operating under Buma Primary School. However, he stressed that the school cannot function independently without a supervisor approved by Head teacher Margaret Wate and the school administration.
“We cannot operate without a school supervisor,” Oloisae said. “Although the ECE is registered, the primary section of Aoani is not yet registered. We need proper approval and supervision to run effectively.”
He explained that while ECE centres usually operate within communities, Aoani is fortunate to have its ECE located alongside the primary section, providing a smooth pathway for children into formal education. Students begin in Pre-Primary Year C, progress to Year B, then Year A before entering Grade One.
Head teacher Margaret Wate clarified confusion surrounding the registration process. She said that during the 2025 school closing, she announced that Aoani Extension was registered after submitting documents to the Provincial Education Office (PEO) for Central Region, Malaita Province, and later to Honiara.
However, at the start of 2026, confirmation from the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development revealed that only the ECE was registered, not the primary school.
Further inquiries revealed that although all documents had arrived in Honiara, the school missed the 2026 budget allocation deadline. Another outstanding issue is the formal registration of land ownership, which is required under the Education Act for all extensions to be fully registered.
“The ministry had already met and finalized its budget before our documents reached them,” Wate explained. “That is why we missed the opportunity for this year. But we still have a chance if we keep our submission active.”
Full registration would allow Aoani Primary to receive its own school grant directly from the Ministry, instead of relying on Buma Primary School to distribute funds. Wate noted that Buma’s growing student population has made administration challenging, with grants and parental contributions stretched thin.
Currently, Aoani Extension operates three Pre-Primary classes (C, B, and A) and Grades One to Three. Students transfer to Buma Primary School for Grade Four. The school has six teachers serving more than 500 students in 2026.
One teacher, Concy, described overcrowding as a major challenge. “It is not easy teaching large classes,” she said. “We separate students into three classes, but every year enrolment increases.”
Despite the setbacks, school leaders remain hopeful that full registration will soon be achieved, paving the way for improved administration and direct government support.
