PHS new wing opened

The ceremony was held at the newly renovated Food Service Building, where Remengesau, Jr., Vice President Elias Camsek Chin, members of the President’s cabinet and the OEK, and other government officials and traditional chiefs attended, along with hundreds of Palau High School students. After welcoming remarks by Minister of Education Mario Katosang, Vice President Elias Camsek Chin delivered special remarks, stating that the two projects will serve as tools for the students’ education. The Vice President commented on the high dropout rate, an issue discussed at the recent Education Conference. He said that he hopes projects like these and contributions from the community and government for education will result in a lower dropout rate by next year’s Education Conference. He said that Palau is blessed to have a Congress that takes strides to improve education and to make it a national priority. He thanked the OEK for its vision, dedication, and professionalism in its continued efforts to support Palau’s education. Minister of Resources and Development Fritz Koshiba gave the project details, summarizing the construction work and listing the new additions to both buildings. The closing remarks were delivered by Senator Hokkons Baules, who congratulated the students and encouraged them to take care of their two new facilities. He said that the Food Service Building will now provide the students a place to eat lunch, and the Mersai Building will serve as classroom and extracurricular activity space. He recognized the joint efforts of the leadership, saying that one person could not have done the work alone, and that the Executive and Legislative branches came together for the sake of the students. Finally, he encouraged the students to persevere in school in hopes that one day they will become Palau’s new leaders.