Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

CNMI education commissioner wants one system handling all education

Posted at 01:55 on 27 November, 2012 UTC

The Northern Marianas education commissioner, Rita Sablan, wants the current structure of education in the Commonwealth reformed so it would be more effective and efficient for the islands needs.

The CNMI Public School System handles the preschool to 12th grade educational programme while the post secondary programme is administered by the Northern Marianas College.

Both systems have their own legislative bodies and management structures and Ms Sablan wants them amalgamated.

She says a single structure from pre-school through to the 16th grade programme would be more efficient and mean a seamless transition to college.

She says the reason many high school students fail college placement tests and need remedial programmes is due to the gap in the two separate educational systems.