The first five students selected under the Solomon Islands Government’s 1,000 Students Per Year to China Initiative have departed for China today to undertake vocational studies.
Their departure marks the first step in the rollout of the SIG funded initiative, established by Prime Minister Hon. Matthew Wale and the GREAT Coalition.
The programme aims to strengthen the country’s human resource capacity by providing young Solomon Islanders with opportunities to gain technical and vocational qualifications, particularly in areas where there are critical skills shortages.
It will support the development of qualified science teachers and certified instructors for schools and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, helping address current gaps in specialised teaching and technical training.
A pre-departure programme was held yesterday, with remarks delivered by Director of Planning Ms Doreen Alfred, Supervising Permanent Secretary Ms Linda Wate and SITESA CEO Ms Constance Nasi.
The students also participated in a briefing session to prepare them for their studies and stay in China.
Speaking at the programme, the students expressed their honour and appreciation at being the first cohort of SIG-sponsored students under the initiative.
They thanked Prime Minister Wale and the GREAT Coalition for providing them with the opportunity to pursue their studies overseas.
The five students are the first of an expected 1,000 Solomon Islanders to benefit from the programme annually.
The students are Macson Lokumana, Electrical Automation Technology (Yantai Vocational College), Eremina Tafilulula, Tourism Management (Yantai Vocational College), Haily Catherine Au, Tourism Management (Yantai Vocational College), Edward Piluania, Industrial Robot Technology (Yantai Vocational College) and Rarovia Hirogyn, Tourism Management (Yantai Vocational College).
The initiative forms part of the GREAT Coalition’s investment in education, skills development and the country’s future workforce.
This will further strengthen cooperation between Solomon Islands and China in technical and vocational education. The Government congratulates the five students and wishes them every success in their studies.
