In the days leading up to the highly anticipated motion of no confidence, Solomon Islands youth are making their voices heard, and they are calling on Parliament to back the Care Coalition’s free education policy, a proposal they say offers a bold and inclusive vision for the nation’s future.
In a recent TikTok Live podcast hosted by youth advocate and podcaster Maverick Peter Seda, dozens of young people from across the country joined the conversation, passionately expressing their support for the policy and sharing personal stories about the financial struggles many face just to stay in school.
“We are tired of seeing our dreams delayed because of school fees,” said one young participant from Malaita. “Free education is not just a promise, it’s a right that must be fulfilled. We want to learn, to contribute to our country. Give us the tools.”
The Care Coalition’s commitment to free education has been described by youth groups as “a policy of hope”, a real answer to long-standing calls for equitable access to learning, skills training, and opportunity.
“Many of us tuned in to the Public Expenditure Committee hearings last week,” another youth leader explained. “When the PS for Education and the SINU Vice Chancellor spoke, it became clear that making SINU free is entirely possible. The only thing missing has been the political will, and the Care Coalition has now stepped up.”
During the podcast, Maverick emphasized that education is one of the most powerful investments a government can make:
“Free education breaks the cycle of poverty, opens up economic opportunities, and gives our young people the confidence to shape their future. This is not charity, this is justice.”
Youth leaders say the Care Coalition’s proposal is not only necessary but timely. With unemployment rates high and many young Solomon Islanders struggling to continue their education after Form 5 or 6, the barriers are not just financial but systemic.
“For too long, we have been told to wait. But we are no longer waiting, we are speaking,” said a university student who joined the TikTok discussion. “We are asking our leaders to hear us clearly: free education is our priority.”
As the motion of no confidence looms, the message from young people is united and firm:
“Support leadership that sees education as a national investment, not an expense. We are not asking for handouts, we are asking for our future.”
The youth have called on all Members of Parliament to stand behind policies that genuinely address the long-term needs of the next generation — and to recognize that the future of Solomon Islands depends on the choices made today.
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Thoughts? Iumi stori
