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PSS notes high student enrollment
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Posted on Dec 28 2000
Newly-released Public School System statistics reveal that student enrollment in public schools increased 2.57 percent this school year, or an additional 235 students in PSS classrooms, excluding head start and early childhood pupils.
According to Education Commissioner Rita H. Inos the figures indicate an improvement in public perception and the rising confidence in public education, noting that most students who have entered PSS schools last August are transferees from private institutions.
“This is a manifestation that parents and the community are showing more faith in the public education sector. And it’s a good feeling,” said Dr. Inos yesterday.
Total student enrollment from pre-school to high school reached 10,004 from last year’s 9,692.
For the current year, student-teacher ratio has been pegged at 18:1. Out of 482 classrooms across Saipan, Rota, and Tinian public schools, student-classroom ratio averaged 19:1.
By ethnicity, majority of the students are Chamorros, up 4.13 percent from last year’s 3,611.
Chamorro/others come in second at 1,560, while Carolinian students increased in the current year by 4.81 percent.
Based on recent figures, there are 306 grade school teachers in the school system and a significant portion of them teach in the first and second grades.
In the entire Northern Marianas, public and private schools combined host some 12,819 students. (MM)
