Country Profile: Kiribati

Geography

Area	Total: 811 sq km (313 sq. mi.) land: 811 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes three island groups - Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands
Capital	Tarawa
Largest city (2003 est.)	Tarawa, 26,600
Other large cities	Main centre and capital is Tarawa, comprising Bairiki (Tarawa South, pop. 46,000 in 2006), Bonriki (Tarawa South, 3,800) and Buariki (Tarawa North, 2,800). Government offices are in Tarawa South at Betio, Bairiki and Bikenibeu. For administrative purposes, the islands are divided into districts, each with its main or headquarters island. These are as follows (headquarters islands in brackets): Banaba (Banaba), Northern Kiribati (Butaritari, pop. 2,500 in 2006), Central Kiribati (Abemama), Southern Kiribati (Tabiteuea), South-eastern Kiribati (Beru), Line Islands (Kiritimati), Phoenix Islands (Kanton).
Climate	Tropical; marine, hot and humid, moderated by trade winds. Terrain: mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs.
Time Difference	UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

People

&Nationality	noun: I-Kiribati (singular and plural) adjective: I-Kiribati
Population	99,482 (July 2010 est.-CIA) or 100,800 (UN, 2010)
Annual population growth rate (2010 est.)	1.271%
Age Structure (2010 est.)	0-14 years: 37.6% (male 21,488/female 20,899) 15-64 years: 59% (male 32,871/female 33,690) 65 years and over: 3.5% (male 1,656/female 2,246)
Urbanization	urban population: 44% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 1.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Ethnic groups (2000 census)	Micronesian 98.8%, other 1.2%
Languages	I-Kiribati, English (official)
Religion	Roman Catholic 55%, Protestant 36%, Mormon 3.1%, Bahai 2.2%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.9%, other 1.8% (2005 census)
Life expectancy (2010 est.)	total population: 64.03 years male: 61.68 years female: 66.49 years
Infant mortality rate (2010 est.)	total: 40.13 deaths/1,000 live births male: 41.38 deaths/1,000 live births female: 38.82 deaths/1,000 live births

Government

Government type	republic
Head of State	head of state and head of government: President HE Anote Tong
Independence	12 July 1979 (from the UK)
Constitution	12 July 1979
Legal system	English common law supplemented by local, customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction.
Suffrage	18 years of age; universal
Administrative divisions	3 units; Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands; note - in addition, there are 6 districts (Banaba, Central Gilberts, Line Islands, Northern Gilberts, Southern Gilberts, Tarawa) and 21 island councils - one for each of the inhabited islands (Abaiang, Abemama, Aranuka, Arorae, Banaba, Beru, Butaritari, Kanton, Kiritimati, Kuria, Maiana, Makin, Marakei, Nikunau, Nonouti, Onotoa, Tabiteuea, Tabuaeran, Tamana, Tarawa, Teraina)

Education

Literacy (age 15 and over can read & write) (2005)	Adult literacy 92%
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) (2005)	total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 13 years
Years compulsory	9 (starting at 6)
Primary to secondary transition rate	N/A
Female Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) - Tertiary Education as a % for School year ending 20XX	N/A
Male Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) - Tertiary Education as a % for School year ending 20XX	N/A
Education expenditure	17.8% of GDP (CIA 2002) or 11.9% of GDP (UNESCO – UIS 2002)
Distribution(%) of public expenditure per level (2010)	N/A
Researchers per 1,000,000 inhabitants (FTE)	N/A
Expenditure on R&D as a % of GDP	N/A
Percentage distribution of gross domestic expenditure on research and development by source	N/A

ICT

Telephones - main lines in use (2009)	4,000
Telephones - mobile cellular (2009)	1,000
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants (2009)	1.02
Broadband Internet subscribers per 100 inhabitants (2009)	0
Telephone system	general assessment: generally good quality national and international service domestic: wire line service available on Tarawa and Kiritimati (Christmas Island); connections to outer islands by HF/VHF radiotelephone; wireless service available in Tarawa since 1999 international: country code - 686; Kiribati is being linked to the Pacific Ocean Cooperative Telecommunications Network, which should improve telephone service; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
International dialling code	+686
Internet domain	.ki
Internet hosts (2010)	31
Internet users (2008)	2,000
Internet users per 100 inhabitants (2009)	8
Computers per 100 inhabitants (2005)	2.5
TV sets per 100 people	N/A

Overview

Kiribati is a made up of several different archipelagos of islands. Notably, of the 33 islands, 32 are less than 2 metres above sea level. These islands are spread over a 3000 kilometre arc, close to the centre of the Pacific Ocean. Benaba, also known as Ocean Island, one of the 33 islands in the group, was extensively mined for phosphate until it ran out in the 1970s. Today, a capital fund established to manage royalties and damage compensation from the mining is a major source of income for this small nation.

The Republic of Kiribati, originally known as the Gilbert Islands along with what is now known as Tuvalu, was a British protectorate until 1979 when it was granted independence and changed its name.

While the total landmass amounts to a little over 800 square kilometres, Kiribati’s economic zone covers 3.55 million sq km and is among the largest in the world.

The greatest challenge facing Kiribati is the risk of rising ocean levels. Any small rise can be catastrophic. The government has acknowledged that it needs to plan for the time in the future when the islands will be covered with water and uninhabitable. Discussions continue over the gradual relocation of the 100,000 residents.

The nation is predominantly Christian with the major churches represented being the Roman Catholic and Protestant denominations following introduction in the 19^th century by European missionaries.

The parliament is unicameral and very loosely modelled on the Westminster system.

Languages spoken are I-Kiribati and English.

Brief History

Originally populated by Micronesians around 3000 years ago, visits by Tongan and Samoan seafarers in the 13^th and 14^th centuries A.D. resulted in intermarriage and a gradual homogenisation of the whole population. Missionaries, whalers, slave traders, coconut oil and copra traders all converged on this region in the 1800s, bringing with them diseases for which the local communities had little resistance. The British mined phosphate on Benaba, as mentioned, generating significant wealth.

During World War II, the Japanese invaded some of the islands, with heavily fought battles ensuing in the U.S liberation process.

Both the United Kingdom and the United States have used some of the atolls for military and nuclear testing during the 1950s.

Governance

Kiribati is governed by a 46 member, elected, unicameral parliament. While originally having no political parties, Kiribati has moved to a loose party system consisting of alliances formed over specific issues.

The Government is led by the President, who is also Head of State. The president appoints a Vice President and Cabinet to assist in the functions of government. Many of the islands have Island Councils who are elected to deal with local government issues. Island Councils generate and spend revenue relatively free from any central governmental control.

All adult Kiribati nationals entitled to vote in the four-yearly elections.

Education System

The Kiribati education system is based upon a 6-3-3 model and consists of five stages: Early Childhood Education (ECE) for ages 3–5, Primary for ages 6–11 (Years 1–6), Junior Secondary for ages 12–15 (Years 7–9), Senior Secondary for ages 16–18 (Years 10–11) and Post-Secondary for ages 19–20 (Years 12–13). Age limits for each stage are notional, as it is common for students to repeat years.

Schooling in Kiribati is free up to Junior Secondary level and attendance is legally compulsory between the ages of six and fourteen. However, a significant proportion of children in the primary and junior secondary age groups do not attend school. Students who fail competitive examinations at Year 9 and Year 11 are unable to continue their studies. This factor—and the school fees charged by all senior secondary schools—contribute to a high attrition rate among older school-age children.

English is the medium of instruction in secondary schools. The Kiribati language is widely used in primary schools, although its use is discouraged from Year 3.

a) School education

Pre-Primary Level

Early childhood education is largely provided by church agencies, community groups and private teachers. Many preschool centres are run in teacher’s homes. Church preschool groups are typically held in church meeting halls. Community-run centres operate in the outer islands. There are now over 200 early childhood centres across the country and a peak NGO, the Kiribati Early Childhood Education Association (KECEA) exists.

The Kiribati Government has little formal involvement in the provision of ECE. However, an Early Childhood Education policy was released in 2009. This policy is intended to serve as a regulatory framework for all ECE providers in Kiribati.

Primary Level

The first six years of formal education is within a primary school model covering grades 1-6. There are 91 government-run primary schools in Kiribati. The Kiribati Government is the sole provider of primary education in the country. Almost 30% of all primary age students are not enrolled in a primary school due to logistical constraints. High costs of maintaining and operating schools on outlying islands is prohibitive.

Secondary Level

Primary students compete for places in secondary school through a process of entrance examinations with less than 20% being successful in gaining a place. However, they can continue to attend Primary School for grades 7-9. The secondary schools are modeled upon a Junior High (forms 1-3) and Senior High School (forms 4-6) structure.

There are 2 Combined/Junior Secondary Schools, 24 Junior Secondary Schools and 16 Senior Secondary schools in Kiribati. Approximately a quarter of these schools are government-run. The rest are run by religious groups. The Kiribati Government provides financial support both to the handful of public secondary schools and the non-government schools.

Non-Government Schools

The majority of secondary schools in Kiribati are run by churches or other religious groups (including the Church of Latter Day Saints and the Bahai Faith).

Fifteen church schools have formed the Church Education Directors’ Association in Kiribati (CEDAK).

b) Vocational education and training (VET)

There are a number of government institutions that offer TVET training in specific fields. These include:

The Kiribati Institute of Technology provides short courses in areas such as the building trades, carpentry, vehicle maintenance, computer skills and business studies, adult education and engineering. Most courses are pre-diploma level, although there are a small number of diploma qualifications.

The Kiribati Police Academy offers pre-service training for recruits to the Kiribati Police.

The Kiribati School of Nursing runs courses leading to a Certificate in Midwifery and a Diploma in Nursing and Obstetrics.

The Kiribati Teachers College offers certificate- and diploma-level teacher training for primary and junior secondary teachers.

In addition, two government institutions provide TVET in the nautical field. The first of these is the Fisheries Training Centre (FTC).The FTC provides seamanship training to the level of rating (Deck, Engine and Fishing) for Kiribati men intending to work on commercial fishing vessels. Qualifications on offer also include an upgrading course for qualified fishermen.

The Marine Training Centre (MTC) runs basic training courses in deck, engine-room and catering work, including a number of certificate-level programs. German shipping companies provide the main employers for graduates of the MTC.

There are also a number of religious-affiliated training bodies.The Tangintebu Theological College trains future pastors for the Kiribati Protestant Church. The Kiribati Protestant Church also runs the Christian Institute for Community Development (CICD), a vocational school for young people who have dropped out of mainstream education. The CICD has an enrolment of more than 100 students. The Bahai Faith provides a Vocational Institute for early childhood teachers.

In addition to institutions offering formal qualifications, there is a significant non-formal sector. Local NGOS and church bodies are active in providing non-formal education and training programs in the areas of nutrition and health, water and sanitation, agroforestry, small-scale food production, local community planning and decision-making, recycling, environment issues and small business development.

c) Higher education

Pre-Tertiary and Tertiary Education

Kiribati students successful in their Year 11 exams can continue to Year 12 and Year 13. These provide the equivalent of a foundation program for university entrance.

The major provider of tertiary education in Kiribati is the University of the South Pacific (USP). In 2008, student enrolments at the Kiribati Campus were 476 EFTS. These students were enrolled in a wide range of courses: Preparatory, Foundation, Certificate, Diploma and Degree studies. However, most students attend on-campus courses of this university in New Zealand or Australia on scholarships funded by the host country.

Overview of Distance Education (DE)

As in many other Pacific states, the history of DE in Kiribati is almost from the history of the activities of the USP in the country. A USP Extension Centre was opened in 1976. The Centre moved to its current location on Tarawa two years later. In 2006, the Centre became a USP Campus. The USP Campus allows students in Kiribati to choose from hundreds of USP courses available by distance and flexible learning. Students with access to the Kiribati Campus can listen to lectures broadcast from Fiji, make use of audio and video-conferencing facilities and use the USPNet system for communication with lecturers and other students.

The USP offers Distance & Flexible Learning courses in a wide range of subjects and at different levels from certificate-level programs to postgraduate qualifications. Printed based materials form the primary method of distance delivery. These are supplemented by a range of different media: audio/video tapes, CD-ROMs and DVDs, satellite-based video-conferencing and audio-conferencing, and e-learning using the Moodle platform. The USP’s goal is to move eventually to fully online delivery.

For a number of years, the Pacific Open Learning Health Network (POLHN) computer lab in Tungaru National Hospital on the island of Tarawa has used for the delivery a wide range of self-paced courses in nursing, health and medical technology in Kiribati using the Moodle platform. These courses are accessible to all. Registration is necessary only when the student intends to sit for the final exam. Passing the final exam allows the student to save or print a Certificate of Achievement. In addition to its own courses, POHLN has selected a range of short online courses from other providers. POHLN’s selection includes 90 courses from Lippincott’s Nursingcenter.com range and 50 radiology courses from the Philips Online Learning Center.POLHN also provided a short one-week online introductory course in POLHN eLearning, which is provided at regular intervals for new participants.

Administration and Finance

All education in the Republic of Kiribati is funded jointly by government, church and parents. The Ministry of Education oversees all programs centrally and is a significant arm of government, accounting for around 25% of all government expenditure.

Chronic underfunding of primary and junior secondary schools is a perennial problem. In 2008, 50% of total education expenditure went to basic education, but 96% of this was absorbed by teacher salaries. As a result, furniture, teaching materials and library facilities are often rudimentary. Many school buildings and classrooms are in bad repair. Overcrowding is common in urban schools. Water supply and sanitary facilities in many schools are also very poor.

Higher Education Reforms

Reform of higher education in Kiribati is largely dependent on the direction of USP policies.

Future Direction of Tertiary Education

The future direction of tertiary education in the country depends largely on development at the Kiribati Campus of the USP.

Information and Communications Technology Initiatives

Telecommunications in Kiribati are provided by Kiribati Services Kiribati Ltd (TSKL), a fully government-owned company. TSKL provides a GSM mobile telephone network as well as traditional fixed line services. TSKL also offers Internet access to homes and businesses, as well as running two Internet cafes. TSKL is currently a monopoly provider and Digicel was refused a license to operate a mobile service in Kiribati in 2009. The future progress of ICT in Kiribati is uncertain given the TSKL monopoly position and the financial situation of the Kiribati Government.

a) Information society strategy

None identified.

b) Major e-learning initiatives

Kiribati joined the OLPC Oceania project in 2010. In 2011, 2,000 XO laptops will be distributed to pupils in Kiribati primary schools. The Kiribati Government has undertaken to measure the impact of these laptops on basic literacy and numeracy.

c) Benchmarking e-learning

None identified.

d) Support for OER

Kiribati is a member of the VUSSC initiative, which is developing a range of OER for use across the Commonwealth.

WikiEducator includes a series of pages on education in Kiribati established as part of the Kiribati Wiki Content Free Initiative.

e) Government entities

Ministry of Education

f) Associations and networks

Church Education Directors’ Association in Kiribati (CEDAK)

Kiribati Association of NGOs (KANGO)

Kiribati Early Childhood Education Association (KECEA)

Pacific Islands Association of Non-Government Organisations (PIANGO)

Pacific Association of Technical Vocational Education and Training (PATVET)

Pacific Regional Initiatives for the Delivery of Basic Education (PRIDE)

Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL)

g) Distance Education journals<

None identified.

Interesting Distance Education Initiatives

The Commonwealth of Learning (COL) has assisted staff at the Kiribati Institute of Technology to establish video production and DVD duplication facilities at Kiribati Video, an NGO that functions as the Institute's video resource unit. In recent years, Kiribati Video has released more than 100 DVD titles on topics such as health, disability, the environment, civil society, good government, Kiribati history and culture, family and social issues. These titles are distributed to islands across Kiribati and provide an essential resource for community education.

Quality Assurance

Even by regional standards, the quality of school education on Kiribati is relatively low. Literacy and numeracy standards are declining. There are concerns about the outdated curriculum. Teacher morale is poor, and the number of qualified teachers is low.

Secretariat of the Pacific Board of Education Assessment (SPBEA)

The USP has a longer history of dealing with quality assurance issues. It has its own formal Quality Strategy and Quality Assurance Framework. The USP has also benefited from its ties with international quality assurance agencies, including the Australian Universities Quality Agency (AUQA) and the New Zealand Universities Academic Audit Unit (NZUAAU).

The Transnational Qualifications Framework (TQF) for International Accreditation for the Virtual University for the Small States of the Commonwealth (TQF for VUSSC:Procedures and Guidelines) was formally launched in April 2010. It is heralded the introduction of probably the most international, collaborative system for capacity building, skills development and greater access to quality-assured qualifications. Since the VUSSC is not an accrediting or awarding body, the institutions that offer the courses must accredit them locally. The aim of a TQF should be to ensure that all the open educational resources that are being created collaboratively can be adapted into recognised courses that students can take for credit through the recognized institutions of the small states. The TQF is to act as a translation point for modules/units and qualifications between countries. An additional benefit of the TQF may be to discourage bogus providers, which are particularly active in trying to sell fake qualifications in the small states.

Regulatory and Policy Framework

The regulatory framework for education in Kiribati is fragile. The legal framework for the provision of education in Kiribati is the Education Ordinance (1977). This legislation dates back to the colonial period and many aspects of the legislation have fallen into disuse.

a) International regulatory frameworks

The USP is a member of the Asia-Pacific Quality Network (APQN). The USP is also a member of the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE).

Education for All (EFA)

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

United Nations Literacy Decade

UNESCO’s Four Pillars of Education

United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014)

b) Regional agreements

Kiribati is a member of the multi-nation USP consortium.

USP Strategic Plan 2010-2012

Pacific Islands Forum Basic Education Action Plan (FBEAP)

Pacific Regional Initiatives for the Delivery of Basic Education (PRIDE) Project

Pacific Education for Sustainable Development Framework

Pacific Education Development Framework (PEDF) 2009-2015

The Pacific Plan (the Pacific Plan Task Force is managed by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General)

Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth (VUSSC)

c) National regulations and policies

Education Ordinance (1977)

d) State/District regulations and policies

None.

e) University policies

Kiribati is one of twelve Pacific island states which jointly own the University of the South Pacific. However, due to the small size of the island’s economy and population, it is unlikely that the Kiribati Government has any significant influence on the wider policies of the USP.