A Mother Knows Best

Rose Bouro, mother of three comes from Manus province in Papua New Guinea. She is a qualified primary teacher and is married to Gideon Bouro from Malaita province. Rose has lived in Solomon Islands since 1985. She taught at Honiara City Council schools. In 1996, she took leave without pay to stay home and take care of her younger son Alfred, now 16 and in year 9 of high school. Rose decided that as a mother, she would be the best early childhood teacher to him, so she home-schooled Alfred. Rose’s initial plan was to teach her son what she thought was best for him to learn at an early age, and the values and attitudes that would prepare him well for further education.

She did the same for a niece who was brought to her care. A year later, the niece, Jayanne got a placement for pre-school at the Kukum Seventh Day Adventist School. Jayanne performed outstandingly in the first term and her teacher wanted to know where she attended Kindergarten. The positive feedback that Rose received from Jayanne’s pre-school teacher helped her to realize her potential in early childhood teaching. Rose says although she was not a qualified Early Childhood teacher, she became good at it simply because she’s a mother.

Rose opened her door to children in the neighborhood of Vura 2 where her family lives, and to children from her husband’s family as well. She was determined to teach and nurture all the other children who came to her like she would her own. She offered free schooling to these children for a whole  ear. She was able to do that with the support from voluntary cash contributions she received from the parents. In 2001 Rose formally opened a Kindy  which she now calls “Rose’s Home School”. The school currently employs two staff, both women. The school charges a fee of $500.00 per term, but Rose says it is really difficult when parents don’t pay up on time. The school’s current yearly enrolment is limited to 20 children. The total number of students who attended the school to date is about 320. Rose had been to other schools in Honiara, to learn about their curriculums to help develop her own curriculum.

Some of the women she recruited as helpers had left the formal school system early, with no prospects for jobs. The teaching experience they received from Rose’s school had enabled some of them to secure further training in Early Childhood teaching at the Solomon Islands College of Higher Education. Some have since graduated from the college and secured jobs with other Kindergarten schools in Honiara. Rose’s own daughter who  dropped out of formal education at junior secondary level also helped at the school which then helped her to gain entry into the college. She graduated from the college with a certificate in Early Childhood education and now helps her mother to run the school.

Rose is a strong promoter of healthy food. She always encouraged her students to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and drink more water. On top of the learning that Rose offers her students, she also sets the school curriculum on a Christian foundation and based all school activities on stories from the Bible. These activities include storytelling, drawing, sketching and colouring..

Rose wants to expand her school so she can increase the number of students who enroll at the school each year, but land is an issue. She wants to see the quality of education that children get at an early age improved through the use of the right teaching materials and school activities.

“We need very good teachers, who are dedicated and passionate about teaching. You don’t find many teachers who are like that anymore in our school system. Many teachers demand high salaries, but don’t show up at school. I want to help change that culture, by showing what a true teacher is to my staff”, Rose says.

She acknowledged donations which the school had received from the European Commission, SWIM and the Honiara Rotary Club. The schools’ opening hours are from 7am – 12-noon, Monday to Friday during school terms. And Rose can be contacted on 8514471/7473991. Rose also likes to bake brown bread which she sells at the Fishing village market once a week.