Solomon Islands Ministry retracts statement on Free Education Policy

The Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) has retracted a media statement attributed to David Polosomana, Principal Education Officer of the Education Provider Support Unit. The original statement, published in the Island Sun newspaper, concerned the Government’s Free Education Policy.

The Ministry clarified that the views expressed by Polosomana do not represent the official policy position of the Government or the Ministry. MEHRD stated that the Free Education Policy is a flagship commitment of the GREAT Coalition Government, but its specific design, scope, costing, and implementation details are still being developed by a Cabinet-established Inter-Ministerial Taskforce.

The policy is scheduled to commence in January 2027. Once the current development phase is complete, the Government intends to enter bipartisan discussions to reach an agreement on the definition and scope of the free education program. The Ministry emphasized its goal to ensure the policy is ambitious, realistic, and financially sustainable.