BY SAMIE WAIKORI
Leader of Opposition, Matthew Wale says there is need for greater understanding of what free education truly means and the benefits it could bring to the country if the policy is pursued.
Speaking in a recent episode of Insight, Mr Wale expressed disappointment over statements made by the Minister for Education during a sine die motion last year, describing claims about free education as economically dishonest, unrealistic and merely a slogan.
Wale explained that free education does not mean it comes without cost, noting that schools require infrastructure, teachers, learning environments and educational resources.
“All these things cost money, but education should be free to students. Education is a public good, provided by the government, and therefore the cost should be borne by the government,” he said.
“However, that does not mean everything is totally free. Communities and education providers will still be involved in building classrooms, holding bazaars, fundraising and so on.
“The point of free education is that a child is not deprived. A child should not be prevented from attending school simply because parents cannot afford school fees. No impediment should hinder a child’s education,” Wale said.
He said it is in the interest of the entire Solomon Islands that every child is educated, describing education as critically important to the country’s future.
“We want education to be a right for all Solomon Islands children, not a privilege for a few who can afford it. If implemented, we would not be the first country to adopt free education,” he said.
Wale noted that many countries throughout history have implemented free education, often as a phase of national development.
“Education is made free for one or two generations, producing the level of human resources the country needs. As the economy grows, citizens are eventually able to afford some level of contribution through fees.
“There needs to be a broader discussion about our vision for Solomon Islands, the type of economy we want to build, the role of human resources in that vision, and how we invest in developing them,” he said.
Wale emphasised that free education is ultimately a matter of government priority, stating that if the government prioritises it, resources can be allocated accordingly and other stakeholders can be engaged.
He said the CARE Party adopted the free education policy because it places strong importance on the wellbeing of Solomon Islands children and views the policy as a long-term, generational commitment.
Wale added that the party believes the policy is realistically achievable through the reprioritisation of government spending and by seeking support from development partners to participate in what he described as a crucial national endeavour.
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