Sikua says his government will introduce free formal education up to form 3

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Derek Sikua has told people of his North-East Guadalcanal Constituency that his Government will introduce nine years of free basic formal education in 2009.

The Government Communications Unit quotes Dr Sikua as saying that the nine-year free basic formal education period will start at class one and will end at form three.

Prime Minister Sikua says the new education policy will emphasis the importance his government attaches to ensuring an educated society in Solomon Islands, adding it wants as many young Solomon Islanders as possible to have access to basic education.

He says giving free education will cost the state purse millions of dollars, but he will be seeking financial assistance towards the new education policy from Solomon Islands donor partners.

Dr Sikua says the government will be putting together a package for financial assistance to cover the free education policy to the Solomon Islands Government and Aid Donors Meeting in June.

He says a number of donors are expected to respond positively to the request for financing the free education policy.

The NZAID and the European Union have been financing the primary and secondary education sectors.

Source: SIBC