(Left to right) Coldrine Kolae, Deputy Secretary Corporate at the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD), Simone Corrigan, Frist Secretary at the Australian High Commission, Rebecca Williams, New Zealand Deputy High Commissioner, Dr. Tristan Armstrong, Counsellor Human Development at the Australian High Commission, Clement Tito, Director Assets Management at MEHRD and Julian Lilo, Director School Services at MEHRD.
TO ensure the safety of school children, the Education Sector Support Program (ESSP) has developed a series of instrumental videos to promote safety in Solomon Islands schools undergoing infrastructure construction.
ESSP is a partnership between the Solomon Islands Government through the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) and the Governments of Australia and New Zealand.
The construction safety videos were officially launched on Monday 17 March 2025 and handed over to MEHRD for distribution to schools around the country.
The videos are designed for students and educational staff, including teachers and school leaders, and emphasize safety measures and practices to ensure a secure environment during construction activities.
Australia’s High Commissioner to Solomon Islands His Excellency Rod Hilton said the safety and wellbeing of students, teachers and community members is the highest priority during any construction project.
“These videos help to achieve that priority by emphasizing collaboration among school leaders, teachers, parents, and contractors to ensure a secure environment for students,” High Commissioner Hilton said.
New Zealand Deputy High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, Rebecca Williams, highlighted that it is crucial to educate teachers and children about potential dangers and encourage awareness of construction vehicles and workers in construction.
“These videos empower students and teachers with the knowledge and skills needed to identify potential hazards and respond effectively. They are a useful addition to the broad range of other safeguarding work required by the contractor to ensure student and teacher safety”, said Rebecca Williams, New Zealand Deputy High Commissioner.
Deputy Secretary Corporate Services at MEHRD, Coldrine Kolae, acknowledged the partnership between the Ministry and the Governments of Australia and New Zealand through ESSP and stressed that keeping children safe around school construction sites is very important.
“When construction zones are located near schools, the need to prioritize child safety becomes even more critical. That is why these videos are a very timely support for our schools in the country.
“Schools will use the videos and presentations to show what a construction site looks like, potential dangers, and how to stay safe,” he said.
The safety at schools around big tools video teaches children about staying safe during school construction by highlighting potential hazards, explaining safety rules, emphasizing the importance of listening to teachers, and recognizing danger signs.
The videos are available in both English and Pidgin.
