Press Release
14 May 2026
Vice-Chancellor of Solomon Islands National University (SINU), Professor Transform Aqorau, was part of the Solomon Islands Tertiary Education and Skills Authority (SITESA) team that visited Tabaka Technical Institute (TTI) in Western Province on 14 May 2026 to undertake a preliminary institutional assessment for accreditation readiness.
The visit formed part of SITESAโs ongoing work to support technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions in strengthening compliance with national quality assurance standards and preparing for accreditation under the Solomon Islands quality assurance framework.
During the meeting, institutional leaders, staff, and stakeholders reviewed the findings of the preliminary assessment, reflected on the Instituteโs current level of compliance, and discussed priority areas for improvement to support future accreditation readiness.
Tabaka Technical Institute, founded in 1992 and renamed in 2019, is governed by the United Church and currently delivers eight certificate-level qualifications. The Institute has an enrolment of approximately 556 students, including students from across Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. Major programme areas include Electrical, Carpentry, Tourism, Plumbing, Business Studies, Agribusiness, Automotive, and Life Skills training.
The assessment was conducted using interviews, onsite inspections, document reviews, and direct observation of programme delivery. The Institute was assessed against thirteen national quality standards covering governance, academic systems, quality assurance, infrastructure, programme delivery, assessment, financial management, student support, and complaints procedures.
The assessment found that Tabaka Technical Institute achieved an overall compliance rating of 74.23%, placing the institution within Tier 2 โ Partially Compliant status. Strong performance areas included Academic Governance, Financial Management, Lecturer and Trainer Competence, Programme Delivery, Assessment, and Student Support systems.
The assessment also identified several areas requiring further strengthening, including legal registration processes, institutional quality management systems, records management, digital data storage, and complaints and appeals mechanisms.
During the discussions, Professor Aqorau shared SINUโs experiences in institutional accreditation, governance strengthening, strategic planning, quality assurance systems, compliance processes, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Professor Aqorau emphasized that accreditation should not be viewed merely as a compliance requirement, but as an ongoing institutional strengthening process focused on improving educational quality, accountability, and student outcomes.
โThe accreditation journey is ultimately about building stronger institutions that can better serve students, communities, and the national development needs of Solomon Islands,โ Professor Aqorau said.
The sharing generated constructive discussions among participants on practical approaches to strengthening institutional readiness and improving compliance with national standards.
The SITESA team commended Tabaka Technical Institute for its commitment to technical and vocational education and acknowledged the important role the Institute continues to play in providing skills training opportunities for young people in Western Province and across Solomon Islands.
With continued leadership commitment and implementation of the recommended priority actions, Tabaka Technical Institute is well positioned to progress toward full compliance and future accreditation readiness.
ENDS//