Education Commissioner Rita A. Sablan and BOE Chairwoman Lucia Blanco-Maratita said the bill will also infringe on parental rights.
“First, we are concerned about the cost impact of lowering the compulsory age to three years old in terms of facilities and personnel costs, infringement of parental rights in such a young age group and the additional cost of those children who do not qualify for Head Start (a federally funded program),” the two wrote to Rep. Raymond D. Palacios, Covenant-Saipan and chairman of the House Committee on Education.
The two education officials said PSS has budgetary concerns regarding Senate Bill 17-15 which Senate Floor Leader Pete P. Reyes, R-Saipan, sponsored.
Reyes said the first five years of a child’s life are very important because they set the foundation for his or her behavioral, emotional, social and decision-making skills, values, self-esteem and lifelong learning abilities.
He said his bill aims to improve the quality of public education in the CNMI by giving children opportunities to learn even at an early age.
Sablan and Blanco-Maratita, however, said the bill will require building 120 classrooms which cost about $150,000 each.
PSS must also hire 120 more new teachers, they said.
“PSS is already underfunded for providing education to those from ages 6-16,” the education officials added.
