RMI Secretary of Education Biram Stege says that she appreciates the opportunity to share the goals and plans of the Ministry with a larger audience in response to the Town Hall Question, "What are the plans, goals and objective priorities of the Ministry under the renewed Compact?"

• RESPONSE : The Ministry has recently revised its strategic plan in light of the renewal of the Compact. I have outlined some of the key objectives under this plan and how we plan to meet them. This by no means covers all areas that need improvement, but they are some of the most glaring areas requiring attention.
  
  
  1) Improved reading abilities for all students in English and Marshallese.
  Reading, especially English, abilities are key to mastering other subjects such as history, science, technology, etc. as most of the textbooks for these subjects are written in English. The MOE has already purchased reading textbooks for all Elementary school students and conducted training sessions for their use by teachers. Other strategies to obtain this goal include improved teacher training, higher standards for teacher certification, retention of native-English speaking volunteer teachers, and increasing the number of classroom hours dedicated to language training.

2) Improved education infrastructure.
Lack of sufficient classroom facilities is one of the largest barriers to improving the education system in the RMI. Currently, the Ministry can provide only two-thirds of the needed classroom space to accommodate potential high school students. In other schools, in the urban centers and outer islands, poor classroom facilities lead to classes being cancelled due to rain, wind and heat. Jaluit High School and Uliga Elementary School need to be totally rebuilt. Under the new Compact, the Ministry should have funding available to evaluate all of its buildings, and rebuild or repair buildings when needed.

3) Improved supplies and materials for all classrooms.
This year, the Ministry’s budget for supplies and materials fell woefully short of our schools’ needs. We plan to avoid this in the future by communicating early and often with all schools regarding their supply needs, and meeting those needs as quickly and efficiently as possible using funding under the new Compact.

4) More Kindergarten enrollments
Worldwide, studies have proven that early education is key to building the skills necessary to make students successful throughout their lives. Accordingly, with funding provided by the new Compact, the Ministry plans to phase in Kindergarten classes at all schools. This will require building of facilities, training of teachers, and acquisition of supplies.

5) Improving teacher quality
Currently, more than half of all teachers nationwide are working with only a high school diploma. Though the Ministry appreciates the hard work of these teachers, we know that they often lack the skills to be truly effective in the classroom because they have not had formal teacher training. Accordingly, the Ministry plans to make A.A. and B.A. level teacher training programs widely available to current and potential teachers. As these programs become established, the Ministry will raise the standards for teachers to become certified. The Ministry is also working to improve salaries of teachers, especially formally educated teachers, in hopes of attracting qualified, motivated individuals. Also, the Ministry realizes the need for increased on-the-job training and monitoring of teachers. We plan to provide principals with the training and support necessary to conduct these tasks.

6) Improving the Ministry’s technological resources on all levels
As many of Yokwe.net’s readers know, the global economy unwaveringly demands computer skills. If Marshallese children are not to be left behind, it is our duty to provide basic computer education along with math, English, Marshallese, science, and social studies. To accomplish this goal we must have more computers in schools, teachers who can instruct students about their many uses, and experts on board to make sure that the Ministry is taking full advantage of all that technology can offer us. This is true not only in the classroom, but at the management level. Currently, the Ministry is busy installing its first computer network, which will greatly enhance our ability to gather, store and analyze information about our schools, teachers and students. In the near future, the Ministry hopes to use these new capabilities to organize its resources in the most effective way possible, to the benefit of the greatest number of students.
There are many, many other specifics I could go into, but the above should provide readers with a general idea of the large scope and depth of the problems currently facing education, and the ways we are trying to overcome those problems. We look toward the future with hope that we will be able to rectify these problems, and that all Marshallese will be able to obtain a world-class education right here in the RMI.
Q: It is with great concern that our government has decided to cancel the financial aid for private schools. Is this permanent or just temporary and will be implemented again once we enter into new phase of Compact II. If implemented, will the amount remain same, increase or less?

• RESPONSE: Aid to private schools was not “cancelled” this year.I believe you are referring to an idea that circulated around the time the Ministry’s FY 2003 budget was created, which advocated reducing aid to private schools in favor of a larger allocation for public schools. In fact, this year, local private schools are budgeted to receive $313,000 from the Ministry. Though the Ministry would ideally like to offer more money to all schools, this amount was considered generous this past year, as public schools were allotted very little funding beyond that used to pay salaries.
  
  Building on the partnership that has traditionally existed between the Ministry and the nation’s private schools is an ongoing process that is key to our strategic vision of education. Although we cannot predict the volume of resources to be dedicated to private schools under the renewed Compact, it is safe to say that the Ministry looks forward to continuing this mutually beneficial partnership.

Q: Reports indicate fifty percent or more of teachers in the Marshall Islands have no college degree or are not certified. Is this one of the high priorities, or does our education department have in planning measures to ensure that teachers or educators meet certain qualified criteria?

• RESPONSE: Indeed, building a staff of truly qualified teachers is one of the Ministry’s top priorities (see Section 5 under Question 1 above). Well-trained, qualified, dedicated teachers can make a dramatic difference in any school. The Ministry has a multi-dimensional approach to attaining this level of teacher quality. First, the Ministry plans to offer widely increased teacher training opportunities. Second, the Ministry is working with PSC and the Nitijela to increase teacher salaries, making current teachers feel valued, and making the profession attractive to qualified future applicants. As we increase the numbers of qualified teachers in classrooms, we will also offer greater monitoring of teachers to insure that all instructors are providing students with the education they need, everyday.
  
  I hope you have found these answers to your questions useful. Please feel free to contact my office if you have any further or follow-up questions. I look forward to reading the responses to this information from your site’s readers. Open communication and discussion will greatly benefit the RMI as it works to make the most of the opportunities and responsibilities presented by the new Compact.

(Secretary Stege also wants to clarify that the "Summary of Ministry of Education Portfolio Outcomes - An Initial Step for the MTBIF" which was sent in November as a response to Virtual Hall Question #6 is still in draft form.)