Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Marshall Islands High School gets US accreditation

Posted at 01:47 on 05 March, 2010 UTC

The largest high school in the Marshall Islands has become the first public school in the country to gain United States academic accreditation.

Following a three-year process of improvement, Marshall Islands High School received the stamp of approval from the U.S.-based Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

The high school, founded in 1963, has about 1,000 students.

The school principal, Gary Ueno, has praised the accreditation process, saying everyone at his school grew and learned from it.

Mr Ueno says it’s a relief and comfort because from going through this process everybody understands what needs to do to move forward.

Only one other public school, Palau High School, in the three U.S.-affiliated countries of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau has U.S. accreditation.