School System
Preschool
The public schools offer neither preschool nor kindergarten programs. However, preschool Head Start Programs are provided by a private Palau Community Action organization. These programs are supported by U.S. federal funds. They give children from economically disadvantaged families a "head start" in being ready for elementary school.
Several private schools offer kindergarten programs. For example, the Koror Evangelical Church's kindergarten program offers students experience in group listening, number and letter skills, development of creative skills, and Bible instruction. The school teaches the values of self-discipline, respect, obedience, and love for all people.
Elementary and High School
School attendance is compulsory for ages six (6) through fourteen (14) or until the student graduates from elementary school. Elementary grades are one through eight; high school grades, nine through twelve.
There are twenty-two (22) public elementary schools and one (1) public high school, with a close working relationship between the public and private schools. Two (2) private elementary and five (5) secondary schools are in the Republic. A significant amount of sharing of public resources with private schools occurs.
Post-Secondary Education
Palau Community College, formerly a branch of the College of Micronesia, was established by legislative action as an independent community college in March 1993 to provide post high-school occupational and academic training. A President serves as the Chief Executive Officer.
Other areas of Adult and Community Education are under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Curriculum and Program Development, such as preparation and testing for the General Education Degree (GED), an alternative to a regular high school diploma.
The Palau Scholarship Program lends money "to financially assist those Palauan students who will be returning to the Republic of Palau to serve the Republic and its citizens after completing their post-secondary education."
Loans up to $5,000 per year for up to five (5) academic years are provided for the cost of tuition and other fees, room and board, books, transportation, insurance, and miscellaneous expenses. The loan is in the form of a promissory note. The program requires a co-signer of the loan. The co-signer must be a resident of Palau and agree to repay the loan in the event the student fails to do so. Eligibility and repayment requirements are :
- Be a citizen of Palau, and enrolled in good standing as a full-time student at a post-secondary institution with a Cumulative Grade Point Average CGPA of not less than 2.0. Applicants must submit transcripts of the schools attended and provide evidence of their citizenship. Recipients must submit a copy of their grades at the end of each term, and receive permission from the Scholarship Board to transfer to another institution or withdraw from their current institution. Loans can be forfeited if a student does not maintain a full-time status, is suspended or dismissed for reasons of academic deficiency, disciplinary reasons, or conviction of a felony.
- A special provision called Service Credit is included in the program. For each consecutive 12-month period that the recipient is employed full-time in Palau, they can receive a credit of $3,000 toward repayment of loan.
