Access to education for the youth of the Solomon Islands can be problematic due to most of the country’s population of over 600,000 being widely dispersed in small villages.
St Joseph’s School Tenaru is located outside of the capital city of Honiara. St Joseph’s School Tenaru was established in the late 1940s as a boys’ school, becoming co- educational in 1972 and supports more than 522 students, 33 Staff (teaching and non- teaching) and the surrounding community. St Joseph’s is one of only seven co-educational catholic schools in the country.
The school is situated in a low-lying area which frequently floods after heavy rain. As a result, during extreme wet seasons, schooling is interrupted as the flooding endangers the students, staff and members of the local community.
A severe flood in 2014 damaged all the staff houses on site. In the Solomon Islands it is necessary to offer accommodation for staff to attract quality teachers to schools located outside of the main cities. AMS has been working in partnership with St Joseph’s school to design and construct new staff houses over a period of time, which each house being raised on stilts to future proof the buildings. The first two houses are now under construction and will provide vital accommodation to teachers.
In another exciting development the school has also nearly completed the development of a new administration building for teachers and staff. The new administration building means that the school can nurture and produce high quality teachers which is then translated to an enhanced educational experience for the students. This is part of a larger redevelopment plan for St Joseph’s which includes new classrooms, upgraded dormitories and improved water storage and supply.
To learn more about the school or to support the educational opportunities of these young people in the Solomon Islands visit: https://bit.ly/2OTubXu