BY NED GAGAHE

St Mary Tanagai Community High School will expand its senior secondary program to include Form 6 Science starting in the 2026 academic year, giving students greater opportunities to pursue advanced studies.

The announcement was made by Mr Timothy Ngele, Chief Executive Officer of the Guadalcanal Provincial Education Authority (GPEA), during the school’s Graduation and Prize-Giving Ceremony on Friday, 28 November 2025.

“Looking ahead, the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development has approved plans to establish Form 6 Science next year.

“St Mary Tanagai Community High School will offer this program, providing students with more opportunities to advance academically,” Mr Ngele said.

He added that the provincial government is also directing education providers to identify a suitable school for the first Form 7 in Guadalcanal Province.

The school currently provides education from Form 1 to Form 6, having introduced its first Form 6 Arts program in 2019.

Chairman of the School Board, Daniel Donua, said the introduction of Form 6 Science represents a major milestone for the school, opening pathways for students to access tertiary education.

Mr Donua also shared a brief history of the school.

Established in 1948 by Marist Missionaries, the school was relocated in 1970 to a new site about two kilometres west of Tanagai and renamed St Mary Marara School.

It hosted the Royal Visit of Her Majesty the late Queen Elizabeth II in early 1970.

In 1980, the school moved back to its original Tanagai site and retained the St Mary Marara name until 2023, when it was updated to St Mary Tanagai to reflect its current location.

The announcement of Form 6 Science adds to the school’s growing academic offerings and reinforces its commitment to providing quality education to students in Guadalcanal Province.

For feedback, contact: [email protected]