The Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) has issued its first official guidance to schools and education stakeholders following the impact of Tropical Cyclone Maila across Western Province, Choiseul Province, parts of Isabel Province, and Guadalcanal Province.
Permanent Secretary of MEHRD, Dr Franco Rodie, said the Ministry’s immediate priority is to ensure the safety, wellbeing, and continuity of learning for all children affected by the cyclone.
“MEHRD remains committed to supporting schools, teachers, students, and education providers as recovery efforts continue across affected provinces,” the Permanent Secretary said.
MEHRD clarified that the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology, through the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO), remains the lead agency for the national disaster response. The National Disaster Operations Centre (NDOC) Education Cluster and the Education Emergency Operations Centre continue to coordinate all education-related reporting and recovery actions.
Under the Ministry’s current guidance:
- Schools, Rural Training Centres (RTCs), and Early Childhood Education (ECE) Centres with no reported damage are to reopen on Monday, 13 April 2026;
- Institutions with minor damage may remain closed for up to one week to undertake clean-up and restoration;
- Institutions with moderate damage may remain closed for up to two weeks; and Institutions with major damage will remain closed until further notice.
MEHRD is also calling on all Education Providers, school leaders, and principals in affected areas to urgently submit reports on:
- School infrastructure damage;
- Teaching and learning materials affected or lost;
- Teacher welfare and accommodation needs; and
- Boarding school food supply status.
The Ministry acknowledges and thanks teachers, school leaders, parents, communities, and education partners for their resilience, cooperation, and continued support during this challenging period.
Further updates will be issued through official MEHRD communication channels as additional assessments are received.
Stakeholders are encouraged to follow official notices from MEHRD and their respective Provincial Education Providers and Church/Private Education Providers for the latest information.
