Palau

by Paul Bacsich

For entities in Palau see Category:Palau

Palau , officially the Republic of Palau (Palauan: Beluu er a Belau), is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, some 500 miles (800 km) east of the Philippines and 2,000 miles (3,200 km) south of Tokyo in Japan. Having emerged from United Nations trusteeship (administered by the United States) in 1994, it is one of the world's youngest and smallest sovereign states. In English, the name is sometimes spelled Belau in accordance with the native pronunciation. It was formerly also spelled Pelew.

Its population is around 20,000.

Its capital is Melekeok but the largest city is Koror.

The official languages are English and Palauan.

It is a sovereign nation and member of the United Nations but has an association agreement with the United States.

Education in Palau

There is no Wikipedia article but a wealth of other information (in English) though much is out of date, for example at http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Asia-and-Oceania/Palau-EDUCATION.html.

Elementary education is free and compulsory for all children ages 6–14. The adult literacy rate is 98%.

In 1990, there were 369 students in private schools and 1,756 in public schools. The gross enrollment ratio in primary school for 1990 to 1996 (i.e. the number of pupils enrolled divided by the number of children of primary-school age) was 103, indicating some attendance by students not in the primary age group. The Palau High School in Koror, the only public high school, enrolls 64% of the total secondary-school enrollment.

In 1990, 445 secondary students attended private schools, and 165 were in public schools.

OLPC Palau

Although Palau is a target country for OLPC, there is no data at http://wiki.laptop.org/go/OLPC_Palau

Higher Education in Palau

Palau Community College is a two-year college and the only institution of higher education. It is an independent institution accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. It offers associate degrees and certificates in fields such as criminal justice, liberal arts, nursing, agricultural science and business.

It is believed to have been founded in 1927 the as Micronesian Occupational College. In 1980 the U.S. Congress designated the College of Micronesia as the Land Grant College of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. This agreement was later extended by the three Micronesian governments, including Palau. In 1993, the Palau Higher Education Act of 1993 established the Palau campus as an independent college, the Palau Community College, with its own governing board.

Its web site is at http://www.palau.edu - note that a number of programmes from other providers are delivered by distance learning (http://www.palau.edu/specialprg.htm).

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For OER policies and projects in Palau see Palau/OER

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