Lanelle Olandrea Tanangada (born 1 July 1979) is a Solomon Islands teacher and politician who has served as the country's Education Minister since April 2020.

Lanelle Olandrea Tanangada
Minister for Education
Assumed office
29 April 2020
MonarchsElizabeth II
Charles III
Governor‑GeneralDavid Vunagi
Prime MinisterManasseh Sogavare
ConstituencyGizo/Kolombangara
Personal details
Born (1979-07-01) July 1, 1979 (age 45)
NationalitySolomon Islander
Political partyKadere Party

Early life and education

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Lanelle Oleandra Tanangada was born on 1 July 1979 in Western Province. Her father is part Ranongga and Vella and her mother is from Marovo Lagoon.[1] Her parents were Seventh-day Adventist missionaries and she has one elder brother.[1] She attended SDA mission primary schools in Honiara and Betikama Adventist High School.[1]

Tanangada undertook undergraduate studies at the Pacific Adventist University in Papua New Guinea[2] and received a Master of Education from the University of Waikato in New Zealand in 2013,[3][4] with a thesis titled A study of language use in secondary school classrooms in the Solomon Islands: Conceptions, practices and proficiencies.[5] She was a teacher at SDA schools in Kukudu, Burns Creek and Betikama.[1][2]

Political career

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Tanangada was elected as the independent representative for Gizo/Kolombangara constituency in a May 2018 by-election after her husband Jimson Tanangada lost the seat after being convicted of bribing voters during the 2014 election.[6][7][8] The charges were brought by former Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo, who then contested the seat. Tanangada defeated Lilo with 2580 votes to his 1593.[3][2][9] She was the first woman in the Western Province elected to the Parliament[3] and the fourth woman MP in the country's history.[10] On 18 October 2019, she was sworn in as Minister for Women, Youth and Children Affairs.[4]

Tanangada joined the Kadere Party and became part of the Democratic Coalition Government for Advancement.[11] She was re-elected for a full term in the April 2019 elections, again defeating Lilo with 4397 votes to his 4002.[11] She became one of only two women in the 50-seat Parliament.[12][13] She was appointed Minister for Police, National Security and Correctional Services,[12] a position she resigned from in October 2019.[14] In April 2020, she became Minister for Education and Human Resources Development under Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare.[15][16][17]

Personal life

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Tanangada is married to Jimson Tanangada and they have two children. She is a Christian.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Kekea, Georgina (25 June 2018). "Partnership and strong faith key to success: Lanelle Tanangada". The Island Sun News.
  2. ^ a b c "Lanelle Tanangada is new female MP in Solomon Islands Parliament". Papua New Guinea Today. 24 May 2018. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  3. ^ a b c "Hon. Lanelle Tanangada". Pacific Women in Politics.
  4. ^ a b Ragaruma, Milton (18 October 2018). "Tanangada sworn in as new Minister for Women, Youth, Children Affairs". The Island Sun. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  5. ^ Tanangada, Lanelle Olandrea (2013). "A study of language use in secondary school classrooms in the Solomon Islands: Conceptions, practices and proficiencies". The University of Waikato.
  6. ^ Buchanana, Assumpta (1 December 2017). "Victory for Lilo". Solomon Star News. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  7. ^ Bryce, Bindi (21 May 2018). "Wife of convicted politician and former Prime Minister to compete in Solomon Islands by-election". ABC News. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  8. ^ "Woman secures historic by-election win in Solomons". Radio New Zealand. 25 May 2018. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  9. ^ Baker, Kerryn; Palmieri, Sonia (10 July 2020). "Widows and wives in Pacific politics". Policy Forum. Asia and the Pacific Policy Society. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  10. ^ Piringi, Charlie (25 May 2018). "New female MP For Gizo/Kolombangara". Piringi Reports. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  11. ^ a b "Tanangada Defeats Lilo in Closely Contested Election". Solomon Times. 5 April 2019. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  12. ^ a b McDonald, Joshua (1 July 2019). "A New Day for Solomon Islands' Women?". The Diplomat. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  13. ^ Baker, Kerryn (27 February 2019). "The 2019 Solomon Islands election: how will women fare?". The Interpreter. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  14. ^ "New Solomons' ministers sworn in after Cabinet sackings". Radio New Zealand. 1 October 2019. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  15. ^ "Government Reshuffles Ministers". Solomon Times. 29 April 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  16. ^ "Solomon Islands gov't changes 4 ministers in cabinet reshuffle". Xinhua. 29 April 2020. Archived from the original on June 30, 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  17. ^ "Solomons backs vice-chancellor's suspension". Radio New Zealand. 19 June 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
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