Mr. Stanley Etse
Director
Department of Education
Annual report submitted for Governor Oliver’s state of the State Message:
The Department of Education is responsible for the planning, organizing, administering, coordinating, monitoring and evaluating all aspects of Pohnpei’s educational services including, but not limited to, preschool, elementary, secondary and post-secondary school, in-school vocational skills development and education for those with special needs or abilities. The Department is also responsible for obtaining, administering, and implementing foreign-funded educational programs and assistance; and for establishing and maintaining libraries, museums and archives. The Department shall have the following division, each administered by a division chief;
The Division of Preschool and Elementary School
Monitor and assist preschool activities and programs; Administer and maintain the Pohnpei public elementary school system, including teacher-performance evaluations, and the development and implementation of the school curriculum.
The Division of Secondary Education
Administer and maintain the Pohnpei public secondary school system, including teacher-performance evaluations and the development and implementation of the school curriculum; Administer student service including counseling, and Monitor and assist the private secondary schools.
The Division of Administration, Educational Services and Specialized Education
Develop and coordinate teacher-training programs and improve the overall quality of educators; Develop and implement bilingual education by providing adequate instructors and classroom materials; Develop and implement curriculum for appropriate mathematics, social studies, science, language, arts and physical education programs; Develop and implement testing activities to evaluate the educational programs and services; Monitor and assist the public library in Kolonia and develop, establish and implement library services to other areas of the State;Establish, expand and operate a museum for Pohnpei, assuming control of all similar functions and programs formerly handled by the Department of Land; Establish and maintain an archives system for the State; Assist and coordinate educational activities beyond the high school level with emphasis on student scholarships, counseling students on post-secondary education opportunities, locally and overseas and, with the Division of Personnel, Labor and Manpower Development, assist in locating employment for returning graduates. Develop and implement programs to identify, educate and train persons with physical and emotional handicaps or other special needs; and Undertake such program initiation, implementation, and accountability reporting as shall efficiently and fully utilize U.S. federal programs and other external assistance programs available to Pohnpei for Special Education. Develop and implement vocational skills training and incentive programs for children in pre-school, elementary and high school in Pohnpei to foster basic vocational skills in all school-aged children in traditional and modern agriculture, fishing techniques and safety at sea, woodwork and carpentry, metalwork, technical drawing, small engine operations and maintenance, home-keeping and community health and hygiene, computer use and basic programming, sustainable development by developing appropriate curriculum and activity programs which will be incorporated into each school instructional program, and by providing and environmental safety and conservation for adequate instructors, classroom and land facilities, equipment and material; and Develop such programs with school Parents and Teacher Association, community and church leaders, business groups, as well as external private and governmental donor to support vocational skills development in each school based upon the principle of active community involvement.