Assignment Code: V10SBED02

Assignment Title: School Administration Advisor
(APPLICATIONS CLOSE 28 FEB 2010)

Name of Host Organisation (HO): Ringgi Community High School (supported by Kolombangara Forests Production Limited)

Name of Australian Partner Organisation (APO):

Assignment Location: Ringgi, Kolobangara Island, Western province, Solomon Islands (Remote Location)

Assignment Duration: 24 months

Proposed Start: 31 May 2010

Host Organisation Description:

Ringgi Community High School (RCHS) is a government controlled school providing basic primary and secondary education up to Form 5. The school is located in the Kolombangara Forest Productions Limited (KFPL) company township of Ringgi and about half of the children who attend this school are children of KFPL employees. KFPL is supportive of basic education and tries to facilitate improvements to areas of schools activities and programs. The company currently provides twelve houses for school staff which also include free water and electricity. RCHS is a "permanent school" and is ideally located in the company township to benefit from well established infrastructure.

Assignment Summary:

The aim of the volunteer assignment is to strengthen the school administration machinery so that the overall objectives of the school are met. These objectives include a better pass out rate, strong financial accountability and highly motivated staff to deliver the required curriculum to the pupils.

Assignment Outcomes:

• Enhanced administrative abilities so that the school can manage its financial and other resources to meet its obligations, both to the children as well as its staff
• Enabled the principal and at least one other member of staff to be confident and capable of using any new systems introduced
• Improved administration routines to allow more teacher/pupil interaction so that academic results at the Std 6, F3 and F5 levels are enhanced due to teachers being more responsible in their undertakings

Essential Minimum Qualifications:

• Diploma in School Administration
• Degree or higher in Education would be preferable

Essential Minimum Experience:

• Fifteen years experience in teaching and/or school administration
• Working experience in administration in a primary and secondary school environment

Desirables:

• A volunteer who can fit into the Melanesian society and be willing to coach, mentor, teach and assist in getting the best out of counterparts (a retired teaching couple would be advantageous)
• Experience in teaching in a developing country

Description of Assignment Location:

The school is located on Ringgi Town on the island of Kolombangara Island in the Western Province which is approximately 300km north of Honiara. Accessibility is good in terms of a Passenger Wharf and Airstrip. Telecommunication is comparable to the rest of the country. It is only an hour away from the main town of Gizo and 30 minutes from the international port of Noro by outboard motor which is the main mode of transport in the Western Solomon's. Ringgi is the HQ of the largest sustainable forestry plantation in the country which is owned by a foreign investor (TTF) and ICSI of Solomon Islands. The company occupies two thirds of the island and is accessible by road. It is within the zone of the tourism attraction of the Western Province. There are 4 small stores and a weekly market which provide all basic needs.

Information on Accommodation Options:

The organisation will be providing a two bedroom house which has a kitchen, bathroom, water supply, electricity power and a small garden. It is located in a secure area and the house itself is also very secure.