Overview of the General Education System

Solomon Islands education evolved from an indigenous system of informal learning broadly based on community roles and oral transmission to a formalized Western school mission style in the mid-nineteenth century. It focused on literacy, agriculture and Christian teachings. Under the British Protectorate (1893–1978), schools were mission-oriented but with limited academic scope and urban-biased access. Following independence in 1978, the government placed high priority on education reform and access to primary and secondary schools were greatly expanded along with tertiary institutions.

Solomon Islands is an English-speaking country, and is the official language used in government, media, law and formal education. It was brought in during the colonial period and retained as a language for administration, in spite of independence. However, the lingua franca is Solomon Island Pidgin which is spoken among rural communities and in local media and schools.

Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) is the government ministry responsible for educational administration in Solomon Islands. It develops policy, oversees the administration and coordinates across early childhood, primary and secondary education as well as higher education. MEHRD is responsible for national education policies and promote equal access to quality education.

The formal system in the Solomon Islands is typically 6+3+3: six years of primary school, followed by three each at a junior and senior secondary level, with technical vocational education training (TVET) to follow either level. This structure is based on the National Curriculum Statement (NCS) framework of outcomes-based education (OBE) providing for learner-centered, competence-driven program design at each level. Although the curriculum supports pace based on knowledge rather than time, access varies across regions as there's less resources in rural areas compared to urban areas. TVET and community education also provide additional forms of flexibility, with formal/informal pathways in line with employment and lifelong learning objectives.

Tertiary education in the Solomon Islands is provided by institutions such as Solomon Islands National University (SINU), The University of South Pacific's Solomon Island campus, and a number of teacher training, and technical colleges. Regulated by the Solomon Islands Tertiary Education and Skills Authority (SITESA), the sector provides programs ranging from certificates to postgraduate level, modelled around a national qualifications framework that seeks quality assurance, relevance and equity.