The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD), Dr. Franco Rodie, has underscored the importance of Physical Education (PE) in promoting a healthier and more active Solomon Islands, particularly among young children.
Speaking at the opening of the Overseas Training Course on Coaching Capacity Building for Honiara Primary School Teachers held at the Solomon Islands National Institute of Sport (SINIS) on Wednesday, 8 October 2025, Dr. Rodie emphasised that Physical Education is much more than just a school subject—it is a foundation for lifelong wellbeing.
He stated that PE plays a vital role in the holistic development of children, especially at the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) and primary levels and helps establish lifelong healthy habits to reduce the country’s high rates of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Dr. Rodie highlighted the wide-ranging benefits of physical activity, noting that it improves students’ physical fitness, cognitive performance, and classroom engagement.
“We’ve all seen how students focus better in class after a good PE session where they’ve burned off some of that energy,” Dr. Rodie said.
He also commended the revival of school carnivals and the Secondary School Games in 2021 and 2025 as positive steps towards strengthening a sporting culture that brings communities together, fosters school pride, and builds essential life skills in young people.
Dr. Rodie encouraged participating teachers to share the knowledge and skills they gain from the training with their colleagues, to strengthen collaboration across schools, and to promote regular physical activities through traditional or introduced children’s games during recess or lunch breaks.
He acknowledged with appreciation the support of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Honiara, the National Sports Council, and the visiting training team from Shandong Foreign Trade Vocational College for funding and delivering the week-long training program for primary school teachers.
