Honiara High opens new administration block and computer lab

HONIARA High School officially opened its new administration block and computer lab yesterday.
The new facilities, which cost a total of $150,000, were jointly funded by the European Union, the government and the school.

School Principal John Roger Mekaboti said the completion of the facilities has fulfilled the long anticipated dreams of the school.

Mr Mekaboti said the computer lab is a further enhancement in research and is an effective and efficient way for students and teachers to collect information that the school and libraries do not provide.

He said students will now be able to access information freely and in a cheaper way rather than paying to use computers and internets in town.

Most of the computers in the new lab are funded by the Republic of China.
The Principal said only a few of the computers were funded under the controversial $5 million school computer project.

The new computer lab is the second for the school, which is accessible for every student, while the old lab is only for forms six and seven students.
He said the school has been struggling in the past years and it is a pride for the school to have achieved such important school facilities.

Director of Secondary School at the Ministry of Education, Aseri Yalongono said the opening of the new facilities, especially the computer lab, has pushed the school’s status to the information, technology and communication world.

“You can now get information from the world into your classroom,” he told teachers and students of the school.

The secondary school director added that quality education though expensive is very important.

He said fee free basic education is one way to get children into the education system.

He added that whilst fee free education cannot get every one into the system, it is important to have better facilities.

Mr Yalongono said the number of students in one classroom should be 40 to be able to provide a better teaching and learning environment.

He commended the European Union, government, school and parents for the partnership in funding the new school facilities.

He said that partnership is the only way forward.