WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND, 14 OCTOBER 2026 – Solomon Islands Minister of Education and Human Resource Development, Hon. Stephen Kumi, is leading a high-level ministerial delegation on an education consultation and study tour in New Zealand. The programme is intended to strengthen bilateral cooperation, exchange policy expertise and identify practical lessons for major education reforms underway in Solomon Islands.
The New Zealand Government-funded programme follows recent engagement between the Prime Ministers of Solomon Islands and New Zealand and reflects the two countries’ continued cooperation in education and human resource development.
The delegation was met by the Solomon Islands High Commissioner to New Zealand, H.E. Ismael Avui. Following two days of high-level engagements in Wellington, the delegation has moved to the next phase of its week-long programme, including meetings with education agencies and visits to education and training institutions.
High-level ministerial engagements
In Wellington, Hon. Kumi met New Zealand’s Minister for Tertiary Education, Hon. Penny Simmonds, at the Beehive in the Parliamentary precinct. Their engagement provided an opportunity for dialogue on tertiary education governance, vocational education and training, workforce skills development and institutional arrangements.
Hon. Kumi also met New Zealand’s Minister of Education, Hon. Erica Stanford, during the New Zealand Vocational Education and Training Research Forum. The engagement provided an opportunity to exchange perspectives on education quality, learning pathways and the alignment of education with national development needs.
Supporting transformative reforms in Solomon Islands
The visit comes as the Solomon Islands Government advances significant education reforms aimed at improving access, quality, relevance and sustainability. Among the priorities are the proposed Free Education Policy, intended to address financial barriers to learning, and the establishment of the Ministry of Higher Education, Skills Development, Research and Innovation (MHESDRI).
The proposed new ministry is intended to strengthen leadership and coordination across higher education, skills development, research and innovation. The delegation is studying aspects of New Zealand’s education financing, qualifications, quality assurance, tertiary governance, vocational training and education-to-employment pathways to inform Solomon Islands’ own policy and institutional planning.
Consultations with education agencies and institutions
The delegation’s programme includes scheduled engagements with senior officials from New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), Ministry of Education, New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA), Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) and Education New Zealand. Visits are also planned to polytechnic and vocational education providers, including Unitec, and to a secondary school.
The consultations will examine how government agencies and education providers share responsibilities for planning, financing, regulation, quality assurance and delivery. The delegation is also exploring New Zealand’s approach to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education, alongside student pathways from school to university, technical training and employment, and links between skills development and labour-market demand.
New Zealand partnership and delegation
MEHRD acknowledges the New Zealand Government for funding and supporting the consultation and study tour, and extends its sincere thanks to the staff of the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships programme for facilitating the programme in partnership with MFAT. The visit provides a timely opportunity to strengthen professional networks, identify future areas of technical cooperation and consider approaches suited to Solomon Islands’ geographical, social and economic circumstances.
Hon. Kumi is accompanied by senior MEHRD and tertiary education officials: Mrs Julian Lilo, Director of Schools; the Director of National Development, SITESA John Goldie Lusi; Mr Charles Roikera, Manager Teacher Professional Development; and Mr Mathias Kutai, Manager Policy Analyst.
The Ministry expects lessons from the programme to inform further policy discussions, institutional development and practical steps towards a more inclusive, equitable and future-focused education system for all Solomon Islanders.
