You will find below a list of the most popular international and bilingual schools for expats in Solomon Islands with fee information. The list includes nursery schools, primary and secondary (high) schools for you to find the right school to prepare for the International Baccalaureate and other accreditation in Solomon Islands. Schools may follow the American curriculum with English speaking program while others run under the British language and system.

Education in Solomon Islands

Education in the Solomon Islands consists of six years of primary education and seven years of secondary education. Afterward, students who wish to complete a higher education within the Solomon Islands must attend one of three colleges in the country.

Education on the Solomon Islands is not compulsory, despite subsidies from major Oceanic nations, and less than 60% of children enter primary school for a mandatory 6 year period. Of those who do, 72% complete foundation school.

Enrolment at secondary school is discouraging in a country where so many people remain at subsistence level. The gross rate is 32% for boys, but only 27% for girls. The curriculum is academic and it usually follows the British standards, as it is a former British colony. It takes 7 years to fully complete (from the age of 12 to 18/19).

Vocational Education: The vast majority of the people are scattered in small villages among the islands. Many earn a subsistence living, where farming and fishing skills are passed down through generations.

International Schools

International schools can be the perfect solution for an expat student (multinational corporation executives, children of diplomats, NGO staff) in Solomon Islands. Many schools provide similar standards of schooling around the globe, providing for an easy transition between schools whether they are in France or Vietnam. There may be some local population, but the schools are usually geared for an international student body. Schools may follow a curriculum model from the US, UK, France, etc. Primary instruction may be any language (and multiple languages are usually taught), but it is usually in English, French, Spanish, German, or Japanese. Schools also provide internationally accepted accreditation such as the international baccalaureate.

Admission and enrolment procedures vary from school to school. Space is often limited and preference may be given to students based on nationality. Tuition tends to be expensive based on local standards, but offers high standards of learning, boast smaller class sizes, first-rate facilities, and extracurricular. Boarding facilities are available at some schools, but most only provide day classes.

Accreditation & Membership

• The CoIS (Council of International Schools) is a non-profit association of international schools and post-secondary institutions which provides educational accreditation, teacher and leadership recruitment services, links to higher education, governance assistance and help with founding new schools.
• European Council of International Schools (ECIS) is a collaborative network promoting the ideals and best practice of international education, complemented by grants and awards.
• Council of British International Schools (COBIS) is a responsive organisation that serves, supports and represents its member schools.
• New England Association of Schools & Colleges (NEASC) is a regional accrediting association which establishes standards for all levels of education, from pre-K to doctoral.
• Agency for French Education Abroad (Agence pour l'enseignement français à l'étranger, AEFE) is a national public agency under the administration of the French government that assures the quality of schools teaching the French national curriculum outside France.
• National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) represents over 1100 independent schools and associations in the United States and abroad.

International schools in Honiara

Woodford International School
Kukum Highway
PO BOX R44 Honiara, Solomon Islands
Tel: +677 30186
Email: communication@wis.edu.sb
Tuition Rates: From $32,440 to $71,180 [school year 2021/22]

Woodford International School is the only international school in the Solomon Islands. It offers education from Kindergarten to Form 6 (Year 12). Woodford International School became an authorised IB World School in 2010 offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP). In 2013, it introduced the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) to its Year 9 – 10 students. IGCSE is administered by Cambridge International Examinations and for the first time our secondary students will have the opportunity to undertake a rigorous and internationally recognised programme of study.