For the past three years, Rota High School has yet to have a counselor, he said.
“A lot of students are undecided and that’s where the counselor plays a major factor,” he told Variety on Friday.
Manglona said more and more Rota students are joining the military.
“This situation is really alarming because we’re banking on our young students, who are the island’s future leaders and our hope. If we will allow them to just stop schooling because they’re poor or there’s no other career for them other than military…we need to do something,” he said.
The senator said Rota students should be guided properly regarding their career and other educational opportunities.
He plans to initiate a career fair on Rota.
Manglona, R-Rota, said school counselors play an important role in molding students.
“It is the counselors who give understanding and guidance to our students as to what career they want to take, what are the available courses and the financial and scholarship opportunities,” he said.
Manglona said he was disappointed that no student from Rota was awarded a Byrd Scholarship grant. Sixteen students from Saipan and Tinian were awarded Byrd scholarships.
“If we will just encourage, guide, and remind our students I don’t think they will be left out. Parents and school are partners in developing our children and it’s our responsibility to help them,” he said.
Manglona said he is encouraging low-income families to apply for scholarship and financial assistance.
“Majority of our newly graduates on Rota will join the military because that’s the only career that they are aware of. They need to know what other opportunities await them,” he said.
He said the Public School System and the Board of Education should seriously look into this issue.
