Government Agencies in Nauru

The Ministry of Education and Training is responsible for equal and easy access to free education and training to provide for the development and growth of Nauru. As part of the National Sustainable Development Strategy (NSDS), the Nauru Education and Training Reform Package combats declining literacy and numeracy rates and attempts to improve primary and secondary school attendance, as well as establishing the National Curriculum Committee, the National Moderation Committee and the Curriculum, Accreditation Statistics and Exams Unit (CASE). The Ministry is in the process of implementing a new Nauruan-based curriculum with programmes in life skills, culture, language, TVET and traditional subject areas of English, Maths, Science and Social Sciences. The Republic of Nauru Scholarship examination is taken at Form One and provides funding for secondary schooling overseas in Fiji; these scholarships are very competitive with over 200 students taking the exam and only 11 scholarships awarded in 2004. The Department of Youth and Community Affairs runs training courses in life skills and work experience.

Nauru’s economy is entirely dependent on its dwindling phosphate deposits. The government recognises that diversification of the country’s economy is the way forward, and since diversification necessitates skills development, education is a national priority.