An advocacy and awareness team from Ombudsman’s office has visited schools in Ugi Island and East Makira Constituency from 19th July—1st August 2022.
The visit is part of an ongoing provincial schools tour program. The trip started with a courtesy call to the Hon. Premier of Makira/Ulawa Province Hon. Julian Makaa (MPA) on 19th August before going out to schools.
A total of nine schools were visited both primary and secondary. These were Pawa Provincial Secondary School and Su’ena Community High School (CHS) on Ugi Island, and Rama (CHS), Wainoni CHS, Namuga CHS, Marunga CHS, Santa Ana CHS, Santa Catalina CHS an Bwagare CHS.
The team presented to staff and students of these schools on a number of important key issues relating to the roles and functions of Ombudsman and its relevance to educational institutions. These include key issues like;
- The establishment of Ombudsman Office in Solomon Islands
- The Constitutional Roles and Functions of Ombudsman
- The purpose of Ombudsman
- Institutions that the Ombudsman can and cannot investigate
- Types of Administrative conducts/misconducts
- Relevant cases to students and teachers on decision making and natural justice
- How to raise complaints to the Ombudsman?
- Some special powers of the Ombudsman
- The role of Ombudsman in the fight against corruption
- Some advantages of the services of Ombudsman to the general public.
Pamphlets on the roles and functions of the Ombudsman were distributed to the schools visited. The Teachers Grievances Procedures Handbook was also provided to teachers.
The advocacy team also received a total of thirty-three cases or complaints during the visit.