Country Profile: Palau

Geography

Area	Total: 459 sq km (190 sq. mi.) land: 459 sq km water: 0 sq km
Capital	Melekeok (391)- capital of Palau was moved from Koror to Melekeok on October 7, 2006.
Largest city (Census 2005)	Koror (12,676)
Other large cities (Census 2005)	Airai (Ngetkib 2,723)
Climate	Tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November. Terrain: varying geologically from the high, mountainous main island of Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier reefs.
Time Difference	UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

People

Nationality	noun: Palauan(s) adjective: Palauan
Population	20,879 (July 2010 est.-CIA) or 20,500 (UN, 2010)
Annual population growth rate (2010 est.)	0.374%
Age Structure (2010 est.)	0-14 years: 22.9% (male 2,458/female 2,314) 15-64 years: 70.8% (male 8,207/female 6,521) 65 years and over: 6.2% (male 401/female 895)
Urbanization	urban population: 81% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 1.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Ethnic groups (2000 census)	Palauan (Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian admixtures) 69.9%, Filipino 15.3%, Chinese 4.9%, other Asian 2.4%, white 1.9%, Carolinian 1.4%, other Micronesian 1.1%, other or unspecified 3.2%
Languages (2000 census)	Palauan 64.7% official in all islands except Sonsoral (Sonsoralese and English are official), Tobi (Tobi and English are official), and Angaur (Angaur, Japanese, and English are official), Filipino 13.5%, English 9.4%, Chinese 5.7%, Carolinian 1.5%, Japanese 1.5%, other Asian 2.3%, other languages 1.5%
Religion (2000 census)	Roman Catholic 41.6%, Protestant 23.3%, Modekngei 8.8% (indigenous to Palau), Seventh-Day Adventist 5.3%, Jehovah's Witness 0.9%, Latter-Day Saints 0.6%, other 3.1%, unspecified or none 16.4%
Life expectancy (2010 est.)	total population: 71.51 years male: 68.36 years female: 74.84 years
Infant mortality rate (2010 est.)	total: 12.78 deaths/1,000 live births male: 14.43 deaths/1,000 live births female: 11.02 deaths/1,000 live births

Government

Government type	Constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force on 1 October 1994
Head of State	Head Of State And Government: President HE Johnson Toribiong
Independence	1 October 1994 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)
Constitution	1 January 1981
Legal system	based on Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage	18 years of age; universal
Administrative divisions	16 states; Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur, Hatohobei, Kayangel, Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngarchelong, Ngardmau, Ngatpang, Ngchesar, Ngeremlengui, Ngiwal, Peleliu, Sonsorol

Education

Literacy (age 15 and over can read & write) (1980 est.-CIA)	total population: 92% male: 93% female: 90%
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) (2001)	total: 15 years male: 14 years female: 15 years
Years compulsory	8 (starting at 6)
Primary to secondary transition rate	N/A
Female Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) - Tertiary Education as a % for School year ending 2009	27%
Male Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) - Tertiary Education as a % for School year ending 2009	28%
Education expenditure (2002)	10.3 % of GDP
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 (2008)	7,500
Telephones - mobile cellular (2008)	12,000
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants	N/A
Broadband Internet subscribers per 100 inhabitants	N/A
Telephone system (2008)	general assessment: N/A domestic: fixed-line and mobile-cellular services available with a combined subscribership of more than 90 per 100 persons international: country code - 680; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
International dialling code	+680
Internet domain	.pw
Internet hosts (2010)	3
Internet users	N/A
Internet users per 100 inhabitants	N/A
Computers per 100 inhabitants	N/A
TV sets per 100 people	N/A

Overview

The Republic of Palau is an island nation situated in the western region of the Pacific, about 800 kilometres east of the Philippines. With a total land surface area of just over 450 square kilometres, it is among the smallest of nations in the world. The topography of the region varies from the high volcanic mountains of the main island of Babelthuap to low coral atolls, providing a home for the population of approximately 21,000 people.

Palau has a small but diverse economy with the main industries being fishing, shell-fish production, tourism and subsistence farming. It is very reliant upon food and equipment from its trading partners, the largest by far being the United States of America (US).

Since the nation entered into a Compact of Free Association with the US in 1986, it has benefitted from the provision of military defence, substantial aid and privileges of entry for its citizens to live and work into the US and a number of other key services. In return, the US is permitted to operate military bases in the region.

While Palauan is the official language of education and trade on most of the islands, Sonsoralese, English, Tobi, Anguar, Japanese, Filipino, Chinese, Carolinian, Japanese and other languages are also spoken in varying amounts on differing islands. The region is predominantly Christian, with Roman Catholicism being the most widely accepted and attended church and association with Protestant churches the next most common.

Palau has a bicameral parliament loosely based on the US model. The leader of the government is the President, supported by the Vice-President.

Brief History

The region of Palau was originally settled around 2,500 BC by the ancestors of the Micronesian peoples with later interaction with Malayan and Melanesian groups. Peoples from other racial backgrounds from more recent history are also represented, including Filipino and Chinese.

Contact with Europeans first occurred with the Spanish in 1543. The Spanish soon established sovereignty and governed the territories until the end of the 19^th century. The Germans purchased the islands in 1998 from Spain and governed them until 1920, when they were handed over to the Japanese at the end of World War I. The Japanese used the islands as an important naval base in their military campaigns in World War II, until the US and Allied Forces captured the islands with huge loss of life on both sides.

At the end of World War II, the region became known as the United Nations Trust Territories along with nine other nations/collectives within the region, administered by the US. In 1978, Palau proclaimed independence, adopted a constitution and became the Republic of Palau. It was not until 1993 that the terms of the Compact with the US were ratified following contention relating to nuclear weapons.

Governance

The Republic of Palau has a parliamentary-presidential system, known as The Palua National Congress, operating through a bicameral model. The House of Delegates has 16 members (one from each state) and the Senate has 13 members (nationwide). Elected members serve a four year term and the President and Vice-President run as a team for electoral success. All adult Palauans are entitled to vote in the four-yearly general elections, held in synchrony with the US Presidential Elections.

Palau has a separate judicial system consisting of the Supreme Court, the Court of Common Pleas, and the Land Court. There has been a series of allegations of bribery, killings, suicides and coercion since independence, particularly in the early years; however, recent years have been marked by more stable and non-controversial government.

Education System

Following the end of World War II, the US has exercised authority over the education system in the region. The education system in Palau is now based upon the US model with students attending both private and public schools. The conditions in different schools vary quite widely, and the level of resourcing makes it difficult to maintain equipment, furniture and learning materials at a consistent level.

Education in Palau largely follows the United States pattern. There are four stages: Kindergarten/preschool for ages 3–5, Elementary for ages 6–13 (Grades 1–8), Secondary for ages 14–17 (Grades 9–12) and Postsecondary for ages 18 and above. Education is compulsory between the ages of 6–17.

The Palauan government spends at least 10% of Palau’s GDP on education. However, most of this funding comes from the US Government as a result of the Compact of Free Association between Palau and the United States.

By Pacific standards, attendance rates at Palau schools are quite respectable. In 2008, the elementary completion rate was 89%. However, there are a number of serious problems that need to be addressed. Levels of teacher training are still inadequate. In 2006, only 52% of teachers had an associate degree or better qualification. Drop-out rates, particularly in the secondary sector are high. Financial resources for education are declining, and there is inadequate institutional support for teachers in small rural schools.

a) School education

Pre-Primary Level

Early childhood education is largely provided by NGOs and church groups. There is also a public pre-school program managed by the Palau Community Action Agency (PCAA) under the Head Start program. This US Government-funded program provides preschools for disadvantaged children. In 2006, 70% of age-eligible children in Palau participated in some form of preschool education.

Primary Level

Following the U.S. model, elementary or primary school education covers grades 1-8, being the compulsory component of school education in Palau. There are 21 elementary schools in Palau, all but two of which are government-run. The elementary school curriculum consists of five core subjects: English, Palauan, mathematics, science, and social studies. In most elementary schools, there are also tutoring sessions after the end of the formal school day.

Secondary Level

Secondary school education is beyond the eight year compulsory attendance period in Palau. The government operates a single secondary school in Koror with approximately 800 students.

There are six secondary schools in Palau. Only one of these schools, Palau High School, is government-run and has been in operation since 1962. Students at Palau High School choose from both academic and vocational courses. Academic Departments include English, Palauan Studies, Social Studies and Science. In addition, students are required to enrol in courses from one of five Career Departments. These are Arts & Humanities, Automotive Technology, Business, Construction Technology, Tourism and Natural Resources.

Non-Government Schools

There is conflicting information on exactly how many students attend privately-operated education in Palau, but it is clear that private providers are significant players in the sector with over one third of all secondary students attending schools operated by private organizations.

The two non-government elementary schools are both church-run. One is a Catholic institution, Maris Stella, the other is managed by the Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

The five non-government secondary schools on Palau are also managed by religious organisations. The Palau Evangelical Church has two separate boarding schools: an all-boys school, Emmaus High, and a prestigious all-girls school, Bethania High School. The other three non-government schools, the Palau Mission Academy (Seventh Day Adventist), Mindszenty High School (Catholic) and Belau Modekenge (Modekngei – an indigenous Palauan faith), are co-educational.

b) Vocational education and training (VET)

The major provider of post-secondary education in Palau is the Palau Community College (PCC). The PCC offers a wide variety of programs under its four degrees: Associate of Applied Science (AAS), Associate of Science (AS), Associate of Arts (AA), and Associate of Technical Studies (ATS). Students can train in a wide range of vocational fields including agricultural science, air-conditioning and refrigeration, auto mechanics, business studies, construction, electrical trades, information technology, nursing and hospitality. In partnership with the San Diego State University of California, the PCC offers online degree and masters programs in education. In addition, the PCC has articulation agreements with a range of universities in the United States and the Pacific.

The PCC provides education and training to meet the needs of life-long learners. It offers four TRIO programs: Upward Bound Program (UB), Upward Bound Math & Science (UBMS), Student Support Services (SSS) and the Talent Search Program (TS). These are funded by the US Federal Government. The PCC’s Adult High School program provides an opportunity for adult Palauans to learn vocational skills and to obtain a high school-equivalent diploma. The PCC Continuing Education Program provides non-credit, short training courses. In addition, the Operations and Maintenance Improvement Program at PCC provides short training courses for Palau Government employees working in the area of infrastructure operation and maintenance.

The PCC is not the only provider of vocational and further education in Palau. The Palau Ministry of Education offers Adult High School programs in a number of rural communities. Post-secondary education is also provided by the Apprenticeship program of the Civil Action Team of the US Navy and Air Force. The US Job Corps is also active in providing training in Palau.

The Penn Foster Career School is a US-based distance education provider active in Palau. Penn Foster offers more than 80 different vocational courses in the country in partnership with the Palau Community College.

In 2003, the World Health Organisation (WHO) installed Pacific Open Learning Health Network (POLHN) computer lab in the Belau National Hospital library. The lab is still in use, providing health professionals in Palau with access to self-paced courses in health available from POLHN’s Web site. There is also a short one-week introductory course in POLHN eLearning, which is provided at regular intervals for new participants.

c) Higher education

The Pacific Islands University (PIU) is a Christian college offering certificates, diplomas or degrees in Biblical Study. The PIU’s Palau Extension office shares facilities with the PCC and is located on the PCC campus. PIU Extension students in Palau can study PCC courses as part of their Biblical Study program. In addition, PCC students can take certain PIU courses to meet their program requirements.

Historical Overview of Distance Education (DE)

In comparison to many other Pacific micro-states in the Pacific, Palau has a relatively short history in terms of distance education. There is no local equivalent to the University of South Pacific. However, distance education has developed to meet the career development needs of professionals in Palau.

Administration and finance

The Ministry of Education shall be headed by a Minister who shall be responsible, under policies established by the President in consultation with the Palau Board of Education, for managing, operating and promoting the public elementary and secondary schools systems throughout the Republic and developing and implementing educational curricula and standards at every educational level and related matters.

Higher Education Reforms

The PCC operates largely independently of the Palau government. The likelihood of any significant change in the institutional direction in the near future as a result of external pressure is therefore low.

Future Direction of Tertiary Education

At present, the future direction of tertiary education on Palau largely depends on developments at the Palau Community College. The PCC intends to expand its offerings with the establishment of the Palau Tourism & Hospitality School of Excellence to open in 2011. However, the growth of the PCC is constrained by limited financial resources. The institution expects no more than a 10% increase in the size of the student population in the medium term.

Information and Communications Technology Initiatives

a) Information society strategy

Even by Pacific standards, awareness in Palau of the potential benefit of ICT use in education is extremely low. The country currently lacks any substantial ICT capacity for e-learning. Although computers are common in schools, their use in education is at a basic stage. Internet usage is not widespread beyond urbanised areas. Even there, Internet connections are expensive and speeds are generally low due to congestion.

b) Major e-learning initiatives

Two major distance education initiatives in Palau have been PRELSTAR and PR*TEC. These have been Ministry of Education project carried out in conjunction with Pacific Resources for Education and Learning, a non-profit education corporation based in Hawai‘i. PRELSTAR has provided distance learning training in technology related fields to teachers, administrators and health workers in Palau for a number of years. PR*TEC offers technology literacy training for teachers and students. Both programs have ensured that the Palau Ministry of Education has a basic technical capacity in computer technology, which is an essential prerequisite for any future growth in e-learning.

c) Benchmarking e-learning

None identified.

d) Support for OER

None identified.

e) Government entities

Ministry of Education

Ministry of Health

f) Associations and networks

Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL)

g) Distance Education journals

None identified.

Interesting Distance Education Initiatives

The Palau Ministry of Health has as active continuing medical education (CME) program. Not surprisingly, the MOH was keen to make use of the two PEACESAT ground stations in Palau for the delivery of distance education through audio- and video-conferencing. However, Palau falls at the edge of the PEACESAT satellite footprint. As a result the quality of the PEACESAT signal was unclear and the audio quality was poor. This led medical staff in Palau to switch to a phone bridging service provided by Verizon Hawai`i. Unfortunately, the service was suspended in 2004, leading to a temporary end in the delivery of distance education to Palau medical personal through audio- and video-conferencing.

Quality Assurance

None identified.

Regulatory and Policy Framework

Under the terms of the Palau Foreign Investment Act, any foreign investor seeking to operate a distance education program in Palau would require a license known as a Foreign Investment Approval Certificate (FIAC).

a) International regulatory and policy frameworks

The Palau Community College is accredited by the US-based Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

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 and policy

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)

c) National regulations and policy

Foreign Investment Act (1990)

Palau Higher Education Act (1993)

Education for All National Plan Republic of Palau 2002-2010

Education Master Plan 2006-2016

Millennium Development Goals Report 2008

d) State/District regulations and policy

Not applicable.

e) University policies

The Palau Community College has published a 15 year plan for the future of the institution. The plan includes a number of relatively modest goals, such as the expansion of the College’s research and development activities in the area of agriculture, pest management and aquaculture, the establishment of an Institutional Research Office, and the creation of an IT classroom. The contents of the plan indicate the medium-term focus of the PCC is organic growth and the gradual modernisation of its infrastructure.