Northern Mariana Islands

by Paul Bacsich

For entities in Northern Mariana Islands see Category:Northern Mariana Islands

The Northern Mariana Islands , officially the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, is a commonwealth in political union with the United States, occupying a strategic region of the western Pacific Ocean. It consists of fifteen islands about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines, at 15°1′2″N 145°4′5″E / 15.01722°N 145.06806°E / 15.01722; 145.06806. The United States Census Bureau reports the total land area of all islands as 179.01 square miles (463.63 km2).

The Northern Mariana Islands has a population of just over 80,000.

The Commonwealth's centre of government is located in the village of Capital Hill on the island of Saipan. As the island is governed as a single municipality, most publications term "Saipan" as the Commonwealth's capital.

More than 90% of the Commonwealth's population lives on the island of Saipan. Of the fourteen other islands, only two, Tinian and Rota, have a significant population. The islands of Agrihan and Alamagan have fewer than ten residents, and the remaining ten islands are unpopulated. The Northern Mariana Islands have the lowest male to female sex ratio in the world with an average of 76 men to every 100 women. That is due to the overwhelming female majority of foreign workers, especially in the garment industry.

Education

(sourced from http://www.pss.cnmi.mp/PSSCentralOffice/index2.cfm)

The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Public School System operates the state schools and there are also numerous private schools.

The state system consists of 20 campuses of learning for school-age children from the age of 6 to 18. Of these 20 campuses, twelve are elementary schools, three are junior high schools, four are senior high schools, and one secondary school in Tinian for grades 7-12. Kindergarten is being offered at all the elementary schools.

At the elementary level, there are a total of twelve schools. On the island of Saipan, the capital and principal business centre of the CNMI, there are ten schools; seven are situated along the western portion of the island. Two of these schools, Gregorio T. Camacho and Tanapag Elementary School are located at the northern end of the island. Garapan Elementary School is at the central part of the island, within the vicinity of the main business district in Saipan. Oleai Elementary School, William S. Reyes Elementary School, San Antonio Elementary School, and Koblerville Elementary School are located at the southern end of the island. While Kagman Elementary School, San Vicente Elementary School and Dandan Elementary School, are nested along the eastern-side of the island.

About five miles away from Saipan's southern end, but separated by water, lies the island of Tinian. Tinian Elementary School is situated in the village of San Jose. And, about 80 miles south of Tinian and Saipan, lays Rota. Within the village of Sinapalo in Rota is Sinapalo Elementary School

At the secondary level, which covers grades 6 to 12, there are total of eight schools. Of the five that are on Saipan, Hopwood Junior High School enrolls students from grades seventh and eighth, Chacha Oceanview Jr. High enrolls students from grades sixth through eighth. While Kagman High School, Saipan Southern High School, and Marianas High School are in charge of the ninth through twelfth grades. Whereas Tinian Junior High School and High School are one campus, Rota has one high school and one junior high school. Presently, there is a plan to build a separate junior high school for the island of Tinian.

In 1998, Dandan Elementary School was opened. It is also located at the eastern-side of the island. Dandan Elementary School primarily serves grades K-6th students from Dandan village and some San Vicente village students. Kagman Elementary School opened its doors to Kagman students and other identified zone areas in school year 2000-2001. Sinapalo Elementary School in Rota opened in school year 2001-2002.

In Saipan, three new secondary schools were opened in school year 2002-2003, beginning with Kagman High School in January 2002. In August 2002, Chacha Oceanview Junior High School and Saipan Southern High School started their first year of operation.

Higher Education

Northern Marianas College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and offers a range of programmes similar to other small US community colleges.

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For OER policies and projects in Northern Mariana Islands see Northern Mariana Islands/OER

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