Pacific Resources for Education and Learning
Enhancing community well-being through partnerships in education
About PREL
Chuuk State, FSM
The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) consists of four states:Chuuk,Kosrae,Pohnpei, and Yap. These entities were formerly part of the United Nations Trust Territory, but the FSM is now a semi-independent nation under a Compact of Free Association with the U.S. and receives financial benefits in return for providing exclusive free passage to U.S. military vessels through FSM waters.
Chuuk State is comprised of the volcanic islands in the Chuuk Lagoon and some 24 outer-island atolls—in all, close to 290 islands. Chuuk, the most populous of the FSM states with 53,381 people (est. 2006) and a land area of 49 square miles, is a world famous spot for divers, with a sunken WWII Japanese fleet to explore. Chuuk has 98 public schools with an enrollment of approximately 13,909 students.
Culture
The Chuukese family consists of the father, mother, their offspring, the grandparents, and the first cousins, aunts, and uncles. This extended family is common throughout the islands of Chuuk. The father is the head of the household, and when he passes away, the first-born male child will take responsibility. In the Chuukese culture, one greets an elder by shaking hands or bowing down. Children are taught to greet every elder they meet with respect. They learn at an early age not to talk in a group of people or when older people are talking. This is to show respect. Chuukese children are further taught not to talk back to an older person, but to listen and concur.
Language
The Chuukese language is only one of the many languages that fall under the Austronesian linguistic group. Approximately 50,000 people in the islands of Chuuk speak it. In the central region of the Chuuk islands, people speak three different dialects, but they can each understand the other. Useful greetings are provided with English translations and phonetic pronunciations on Language Cards.
Education
Formal education in Chuuk dates from the arrival of the first protestant missionaries in the 1800s. Before that, learning of traditional skills was the norm. At present, the educational system offers both public and private schooling. Elementary is from grades 1 to 8 with 5-year-old children attending Head Start. After grade school, students attend junior high school and then senior high school. English is the required spoken language at all grade levels, especially from 3rd grade through high school.
PREL Service Center
P.O. Box 1239
Weno, Chuuk FM 96942
Phone: (691) 330-5449/5439
Fax: (691) 330-5450
Email: chuuksc@prel.org
Chuuk State Department of Education
Ms. Gardenia Aisek, Director of Education
Chuuk State School System
P.O. Box 460
Weno, Chuuk FM 96942
Phone: (691) 330-7045
Fax: (691) 330-2604
FSM National Department of Education
Institutions of Higher Education
College of Micronesia, Chuuk Campus
P. O. Box 879
Weno, Chuuk FM 96942
Phone: (691) 330-2689
Fax: (691) 330-2740
Email: chuuk@comfsm.fm
www.comfsm.fm
Government
FSM Government
Governments on the WWW: Micronesia
Airline Service
Contact PREL
Pacific Resources for Education and Learning
Phone:
(808) 441-1300
U.S. Toll-free Phone:
(800) 377-4773
AskPREL
Phone:
(808) 441-1300
U.S. Toll-free Phone:
(800) 377-4773
AskPREL