The facilities were part of a $3 million dollar infrastructure sector grant under the Amended Compact, and are the first schools to be completed under the Amended Compact in the FSM.
During his remarks at the three ceremonies, Prahar remarked that “[these schools are] solid evidence of the commitment of the people of the United States to making real improvements in the lives of the people of the FSM, who are our partners and our friends in this region of the world and globally.”
He conveyed hopes that each school be used “to represent the value that [you place] on education…to be an anchor of your community…. [and] that the graduates of this school continue to draw on its traditions and history and that they find those memories a source of strength as they go about their lives in the hectic world of the 21st century.”
Prahar then offered words of advice for the school’s stakeholders.
He encouraged the community to take care of the school and take an active role in the school’s activities, the parents to demand and pursue excellence from the public school system, the teachers to renew their dedication to their careers and student achievement, and the administration to ensure a safe and clean learning environment for at least 180 days a year.
Lastly, he urged students to absorb as much as possible from their academic experiences, explaining that hard work in the classroom will open doors for their future success.
Speaking on behalf of the FSM national government, Secretary of Foreign Affairs Lorin Robert remarked that “this school is more than just a building in the heart of Kolonia, it is a tangible symbolic structure and a testimony of the unique partnership and friendship enjoyed between the United States and the Federated States of Micronesia. We thank you ambassador for the support and assistance of your government.”
In Pohnpei, Amended Compact-funded schools in Nett, Saladak (U), and Sapwalap (Madolenihmw) are slated to break ground in early 2011.
