The education system in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) consists of early childhood education, elementary and secondary education, non-formal education and other post-school components such as technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and other forms of vocational education. Students with special needs are included within the mainstream groupings.
Public education is free and attendance in grades 1–8 is compulsory for all students aged 6 to 14 years (including those with disabilities) or until the completion of grade 8. The government provides textbooks free of cost to all students. Secondary schooling (grades 9–12) is not compulsory.
A major issue for the education sector is the cultural and linguistic diversity across the four separate and semi-autonomous states that make up the country. Although English is the official language for FSM and is used as a medium of instruction in schools, it is the second language for around 98% of all students. There is no single unifying language structure across all 607 islands of FSM. Many local spoken languages also do not have well-established writing systems or significant amounts of printed texts.
The country’s Education sector strategic development plan 2020-2024 (ESSDP), prepared with GPE’s support, is aligned with the Pacific Regional Education Framework (PacREF) and the Sustainable Development Goals (specifically Goal 4 for education). It recognizes the importance for the country to work cooperatively within the Pacific region and to maintain a global focus on higher quality learning outcomes.
To address the low learning outcomes, the ESSDP aims to improve the quality of learning particularly in reading and numeracy at all levels in safe, climate-resistant learning environments.
To achieve this, the ESSDP specifies 5 sub-goals:
- Provide high quality relevant programs for learners at all levels of education
- Improve the quality of teachers and teaching at all levels
- Maintain consistent performance monitoring and data-based decision-making systems
- Strengthen the participation of communities in the management of schools
- Ensure that education is relevant to the life and aspirations of the people of FSM.
Regional strategy: PacREF
In 2018, the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat’s Education Ministers, in which FSM participates, adopted the Pacific Regional Education Framework (PacREF) 2018-2030: Moving Towards Education 2030. PacREF outlines a transformative and sustainable regional education agenda aligned with global agendas such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4, and Education 2030: Incheon Declaration on Education for All Framework for Action.
The 12-year framework promotes equitable access to high quality education by all Pacific Islanders with a view to enable their countries to effectively deal with the development challenges facing the Pacific region. The framework also encourages inclusivity and opportunities for equal access to informal, primary, secondary and tertiary education and training. It focuses particularly on education quality and the importance of working cooperatively in the region and beyond.
While Pacific countries integrate what they consider as the relevant parts of the PacREF Program into their national education policies, programs and practices, the Framework also provides a means for identifying and understanding similarities and differences across the region. It offers organizing mechanisms for sector planning, reporting and collaboration, and give development partners with an understanding of where the region’s resourcing priorities lie.
The PacREF has 4 key policy areas to maximize gains in student learning outcomes and well-being:
- Quality and relevance: Provide all learners with a safe and supportive environment, within which they are offered high quality learning opportunities that are meaningful, valuable, inclusive and future-focused.
- Learning pathway: Provide all learners equal access to multiple and seamless pathways and modalities of learning that will allow them to meet their full potential.
- Student outcomes and wellbeing: Make sure all learners acquire the knowledge, skills, values and attributes to enable them to contribute to their families, communities and to nation building.
- The teaching profession: Support and empower teachers through opportunities for continuous development, shared understanding and accountability.
PacREF is divided into three 4-year phases to facilitate in-depth program review by the education ministers.
