Honiara, Solomon Islands (December 3), 2025 – The Baseline Assessment of the Education System Transformation Program (ESTP) provides strong, comprehensive findings that will directly inform and strengthen the planning and design of the new Teacher Professional Development Program.
The assessment was conducted across five provinces (Malaita, Guadalcanal, Makira, Central, and Western) and included 80 primary and secondary schools. A total of 800 teachers and school leaders participated in the survey.
Among the key findings, the survey highlights a decline in student enrolment as learners progress through the grades, with a particularly high dropout rate among boys in Year 9. It also shows that the teaching workforce is relatively young and predominantly trained at the Solomon Islands National University, with most teachers holding certificates or diplomas as their highest qualifications. Furthermore, the majority of principals are male and older, often with similar qualifications to their teachers. The survey also reveals that schools are open fewer days than expected, resulting in the loss of nearly three instructional days per month.
With these findings, education stakeholders, providers, development partners, and MEHRD Heads of Department are conducting a two-day finalization workshop from 2nd – 3th December 2025 at Honiara Hotel, to reflect on the findings and discuss areas of action by utilizing the insights gained from the Baseline Assessment.
Permanent Secretary Dr. Franco Rodie, in his opening address, highlighted the findings as a management and policy tool that indicate direction for improvements.
He said the findings provide unprecedented visibility of what is happening in the classroom where our children learn, how teachers prepare and deliver their lessons, teachers’ management, and where children are struggling the most.
He acknowledges the commitment of the key stakeholders, the education providers, and development partners to reflect on the baseline analysis that will guide a transformation approach to the entire education system.
The Baseline Assessment was conducted by MEHRD in partnership with UNICEF (Grant Agent) and MFAT (Coordinating Agency).
