The Minister of Education and Training, Hon. Simil Johnson, has issued a clarification in response to recent reports circulating on social media, VBTC News, and the Vanuatu Daily Post concerning the state of school infrastructure at Nambangasale Presbyterian Junior Secondary School (PJSS) on Tongoa Island and Baldwin Lonsdale Memorial School (BLMS) in TORBA Province.
From a press statement it states that the Minister clarified that, contrary to claims suggesting that no repairs have been made at Nambangasale PJSS since Cyclone Pam, the Ministry did undertake efforts to ensure renovation works were carried out two years ago. These works allowed the school to continue operating as a senior cycle institution for the Shepherds Outer Islands.
“Two years ago, the Shefa Education Officer undertook some works—not for the entire school but to at least accommodate the few students who remained. A decision by the Ministry’s Senior Management was made for the children to return to school as part of our ongoing effort to support recovery in affected areas,” the Minister said.
He explained that following these renovations, the Ministry instructed that classes resume immediately. However, operations were later disrupted due to ongoing land disputes and political tensions among villagers. The Minister added that student enrolment at the school has remained relatively low, with 48 students in 2023, 62 in 2024, and 96 in 2025. He reminded the public that the school is managed under the Presbyterian Church Authority, which receives regular government grants, and called on the Authority to take a more proactive role in the management and maintenance of the school.
“The Ministry continues to fulfil its responsibility by paying grants to government and government-assisted schools. But we also question what some school authorities have done in return to support their schools,” he said.
Minister Johnson also acknowledged the Ministry’s ongoing collaboration with development partners, including the World Bank, through school recovery projects that cover repairs at ERE Primary School on Tongoa Island and other cyclone-affected institutions. He expressed appreciation to the Australian Government for its continued support to the Vanuatu Government’s education initiatives, which contribute over VT 1 billion annually in school grants to ensure equitable access to education for all children across the country.
Turning to Baldwin Lonsdale Memorial School, the Minister responded to the Daily Post report highlighting deteriorating school infrastructure. He confirmed that the Provincial Education Office in TORBA had reported that some of the school’s buildings require major maintenance. As BLMS is a Church Authority School, he emphasized that the school management should play an active role in the upkeep and maintenance of its facilities. He pointed out that BLMS receives the largest portion of school grants in TORBA Province, with around 595 students enrolled across both French and English streams from ECCE to secondary level. This means approximately VT 5 million in school grants is paid to the school each year, and the management must ensure that these funds are properly utilized to meet the school’s operational and maintenance needs.
A detailed report will be submitted to the Ministry of Education and Training to help determine the next steps. The Minister also confirmed that a project to construct a new science laboratory at BLMS is already in progress and is expected to commence towards the end of the year. The Ministry’s Facilities Team has also been informed and will soon travel to TORBA Province to assess both the Education Office and BLMS, providing technical support and recommendations for improvement.
The Minister further noted that the Daily Post article did not include the Government’s side before publication.
“The Government continues to pay teachers, fund school grants, and provide support to all church authorities. It is now time for school managements and church authorities to plan their budgets wisely, address maintenance issues, and align their development plans with the Ministry’s infrastructure strategy,” he said.
Looking ahead, Minister Johnson announced several upcoming initiatives under the Ministry’s recovery and development program, including the opening of new classrooms in various schools next week, continued assistance from Operation Gaston in New Caledonia to support school renovations across Vanuatu, and the expansion of postgraduate programs in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) offered at USP Emalus Campus. The Ministry will also officially launch the VEMIS and CRIMS systems to strengthen education data management and planning.
The Ministry of Education and Training reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that all children in Vanuatu have access to safe, inclusive, and quality learning environments. The Minister called on church authorities, provincial education offices, and communities to strengthen cooperation and take shared responsibility for maintaining education facilities nationwide, as the Government continues to deliver on its commitment to providing quality education for all.
