More than one hundred representatives from Nanala community and the Guadalcanal Provincial Government celebrated the opening of the Nanala Community Primary School, funded by the Solomon Islands Australian High Commission’s Direct Aid Program.
The Nanala community is located around four hours walk inland from Gold Ridge, and is home to more than 350 people. The primary school is the first school for the village.
Australia provided SBD 80, 000 dollars for the building materials for the school and also provided 40 solar panel sets for the community. The roofing iron and hardware used to build the school was walked in from Gold Ridge, and the school was built by hand with the help of volunteers from the community.
During the handover ceremony in late March, Australian High Commission Second
Secretaries Dave Inabinet and Ben O’Reilly officially gifted the school to the community, who then passed on the school to Guadalcanal Province to manage.
Speaking during the handover David Inabinet said Australia was delighted to assist in making sure children in remote communities receive an education.
“Australia is pleased to be working with the people and government of Solomon Islands to ensure that children, no matter where they live, have access to education,” Mr Inabinet said.
Receiving the school on behalf of Nanala Community, Guadalcanal province’s Chief
Education Officer Suia Maesac thanked the Australian Government for the gift and said the school would contribute to the provincial government’s efforts to ensure children in remote areas have access to school.
“Without the assistance provided by the Australian High Commission and without the hard work and support from the Nanala community, we would not be here today to receive the school,” Mr Maesac said.
The Nanala Community is now working with the Guadalcanal Provincial Government to register the school and have a full time teacher sent to Nanala.
Source: Press Release, Australian High Commission, Solomon Islands