By Nazario Rodriguez Jr.
Horizon news staff

Even gauging just from the big turnout, the Ministry of Education accomplished its goals in the 2007 Education Awareness Week (March 12-16), as Minister Mario Katosang said it was a real success story for the school children, their parents, teachers and everyone else who participated in the five day activities.
The estimated number of participants was close to 4,000 as Katosang said the Compact Road really did a lot in community participation and has thanked the parents and the state leaders for their support.
But what was important, Katosang said, was that the kids came together to participate and learn from each other and being aware of the many areas of study and activities that took place in the week.
"Students, parents and teachers from East and West got together" he said.
The big challenge ahead is to tap sponsorship to fund the program to make it an annual event. Katosang is looking on outside sources if Congress cannot appropriate.
The just-concluded awareness week was done possible through the $95,000 grant from the Pacific Regional Initiative for the Delivery of basic Education (PRIDE) Project.
Katosang said around $100,000 is needed to run the program.
Raynold Mechol, Chief of Researcher and Evaluation, initially assessed that the MOH has satisfactorily accomplished their objectives.
The students have competed in many fields of interests like sport games (basketball, volleyball, softball, track and field), traditional music and dance, spelling bee, skit, science fair etc.
Thus the students have been exposed to competitive educational programs in the same way that the public became more aware of the importance of education for the children and young adults.
The students also learned more about the Palauan culture, customs and traditions and became more familiar and friendly with each other.
Mechol said that after five days of competing with each other, it was expected that there would be an increased collaboration with students, parents and the community.