In the heart of the Solomon Islands, a sense of anticipation was felt as school leaders from across the provinces gathered in Honiara. The occasion was the orientation for the Graduate Certificate in School Leadership (GCSL) Solomon Islands Cohort 2, an initiative aimed at nurturing leadership within the nation’s education sector. The University of the South Pacific’s Institute of Education (IoE) had teamed up with the Solomon Islands Ministry of Education and Human Resources (MEHRD) to make this educational dream a reality.
Mr Adrian Casper, the CEO of Teachers Training in Solomon Islands and the Guest of Honour expressed the Ministry’s joy in co-funding the GCSL program and the pride they felt in supporting the second cohort of school leaders.
Mr Casper recounted the program’s genesis, revealing that the GCSL had sprung from a request by the Ministry itself. Recognizing the pivotal role of leadership in education, the Ministry had envisioned empowering its staff with enhanced leadership skills. The first cohort, consisting of over a thousand individuals, had already graduated, leaving a profound impact on the education landscape.
Learning from the past, the Ministry had reconfigured the program’s delivery format for this second cohort. Instead of travelling around provinces for training, they had brought together a group of twenty school leaders, each chosen from thousands of applicants to be a part of the face-to-face cohort in Honiara.
Each of these school leaders has been granted a fully funded scholarship through the MEHRD.
Samuel Kiriori Wairiasi, a Form 6 tutor in History and Geography at the Rokera Provincial Secondary School said through this programme, he hoped to be a school leader and apply the skills and knowledge from the study.
Juliane Nume, a Year 1 and 2 Science teacher echoed the same sentiments, highlighting the significance of this educational opportunity.
The Campus Director of the USP Solomon Islands Campus, Dr Billy Fitoo, also shared his experiences from the first cohort.
He recalled how the GCSL participants had not only honed their leadership acumen but also transformed their schools and communities through their newfound skills.
The Institute of Education’s Fellow in Professional Development and Learning and the GCSL Coordinator, Peseti Vea, extended appreciation to Mr Casper and the MEHRD team for their instrumental support in organizing the program. He also thanked Dr Fitoo for his unwavering commitment to the GCSL initiative.
Mr Vea reminded the participants how fortunate they were to be selected. He also encouraged the future leaders to leverage the available resources and support.
The orientation marked the beginning of an inspiring journey. Over the coming months, these twenty school leaders will take the Graduate Certificate in School Leadership program, arming themselves with skills, insights, and strategies to lead their schools with vision and impact.
