The Solomon Islands government is to introduce major changes in the education system next year.
The Education Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Snyder Rini, says primary school fees will be abolished next year to enable all children to have access to primary education.
Another major change will be the abolition of the Standard Six Secondary Education Examination enabling all primary pupils to receive a secondary education.
The education ministry will also pay the salaries of teachers from rural training centres.
Mr Rini says the new initiatives should lead to increased annual intakes in both primary and secondary schools.
He says these changes and the government's commitment are reflected in the budgetary allocation of more than 26 million US dollars to education in the 2005 budget.
New Zealand and the European Union also contribute substantial funds for the education sector.
