Supporting rural youth in their community
St Dominic’s Rural Training Centre is located in Vanga Point on the rural Kolombangara Island. It is a 1-hour open water boat ride to the nearest town – Gizo. St Dominic’s is a Marist-run rural training centre (RTC), operating since 1971, and offers vocational training in building, mechanics, poultry raising, agriculture and forestry. RTC’s play an important role in the Solomon Islands educating youth from rural areas in practical vocational skills that allows them to stay in rural areas and halt the high rate or urbanization. In 2018 there are 145 male students, aged from 18-30, and 12 teachers.
St Dominic’s has never had a dedicated administration building. The principal, works out of a room in the Brothers house, and the staff have no area to work. Without the proper infrastructure the staff of St Dominic’s have not been able to properly plan lessons, undertake joint-planning sessions and conduct staff/student meetings. Ultimately, this reflects in the delivery of the curriculum and is impacting the students learning. Once complete the building will provide office space for the principal and deputy principal, general staff room, department rooms and a bathroom block. The construction of an administration building has long been earmarked as a way to revitalize St Dominic’s and is their focus project in 2018/19.
Help support the future-focused learning and teaching that will provide the students of St Dominic’s Rural Training Centre with real life skills to support themselves and their community.
