 |
| Department of Education | |
|---|---|
| Minister | Charmaine Scotty [1] |
| National education budget (2011–2012) | |
| Budget | AUD3,071,608 [2] |
| Per student | AUD1000.20–1065.42A |
| General details | |
| Primary languages | Nauruan and English |
| System type | National |
| Literacy (2011) | |
| Total | 96.5 |
| Male | 95.7 |
| Female | 97.2 |
| Enrollment (2013) | |
| Total | 3,196B |
| Primary | 1,475 |
| Secondary | 964 |
| Post secondary | 6C |
| Attainment (2011) | |
| Secondary diploma | 91.2 |
| Post-secondary diploma | 4.9 |
| A The national budget for education was for 2011 and 2012. Funding figures were calculated by using the enrollment data from the 2011 and 2012 year. [3] B Includes 751 pre-school students C Data from 2002 [4] | |
Education in Nauru is compulsory for children between the ages of 5 and 16. There are eleven schools in Nauru, including three primary schools and two secondary schools (Nauru College and Nauru Secondary School). There is an Able/Disable Centre for children with special needs. [5] Education at these schools is free. In 2011, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade reported that 3,026 children were enrolled at Nauru's schools. [5] The Minister for Education is the Hon. Charmaine Scotty, MP from 2013.
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The Nauru Campus of the University of the South Pacific (USP) is located in Nauru Learning Village Yaren District since 2018, [6] and was previously in Aiwo District. [7] USP began teaching remote courses in the 1970s. A local campus was established in 1987. Courses of study focus on the fields of education and business. The campus also serves the broader community through a Continuing education programme. [8]
Education in Nauru was first formalised by the work of Protestant missionaries in the early twentieth century. The first schools were established by missionary Philip Delaporte, teaching children literacy in the Nauru language. In 1923, the joint administration of the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand made education compulsory and established a curriculum based in the English language. [9] Australia's AusAID funded an $11 million refurbishment of Nauru Secondary School beginning in late 2007. The project to assist in improving educational performance in Nauru was completed in 2010. Part of the project focused on enhancing Nauruan construction capacity. [10]
The Human Rights Measurement Initiative (HRMI) [11] finds that Nauru is fulfilling only 83.9% of what it should be fulfilling for the right to education based on the country's level of income. [12] HRMI breaks down the right to education by looking at the rights to both primary education and secondary education. While taking into consideration Nauru's income level, the nation is achieving 93.5% of what should be possible based on its resources (income) for primary education but only 74.2% for secondary education. [12]
