The Senate is supporting Palau High School’s efforts towards accreditation with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
The Senators met with members of the PHS Self-Study Accreditation Committee and school faculty, students, and parents on Tuesday March 27 at the Capitol.
Edward Ngiratrang, Coordinator of the PHS Self-Study Committee, addressed members of the Senate and members of the House Committee on Education, highlighting the purpose and benefit of having PHS as an accredited high school. Currently, PHS is the only high school in Micronesia, outside of Guam and the CNMI that is seeking accreditation.
PHS submitted an application for accreditation to WASC in January 2004 and the Self-Study process began a year later.
The Self-Study process involves accomplishing five main objectives: collaboratively all stakeholders in the self-study process; clarifying the school purpose and the Expected School-wide Learning Results; assessing the actual student program and its effectiveness; developing a school-wide action plan with support plans to address identified growth needs; and developing and implementing an accountability system for monitoring the accomplishment of the action plan.
Newly elected Senate President Joshua Koshiba assured PHS that within two weeks there will be a resolution from both houses expressing support, because OEK takes this matter seriously.
The Senate President was also proud to learn that the 144-page PHS Self-Study report was funded by the Student Body Association of PHS.
He extended his wishes to provide financial support to the self-study process and the SBA.
Mlib Tmetuchl, Senate Vice President and Chairman of the Health, Education, and Social Welfare Committee, also extended the invitation to the Self-Study Committee to contact the Committee for funding needs