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PSS to air program on school facilities
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Posted on Jan 12 2006
A one-hour program that identifies the critical needs of the 20 public schools in the CNMI will be aired at KMCV Channel 7 starting Monday, Jan. 16, at 6:30pm.
Titled “State of Education in the CNMI focusing on the seven-year Capitol Improvement Plan 2005-2012,” the program will feature each school’s principal or vice-principal talking about their school’s current enrollment, student-teacher ratio and the challenges, problems or concerns that they want to share to the parents and to the community as a whole.
The CIP plan was developed in July 2005 and encompasses high priority school facility needs from school year 2005 to 2012. The plan addresses facilities needed for projected enrollment growth as well as major repairs, replacements and other high priority needs. It identifies the need to construct three new schools, 139 new classrooms, 39 replacement classrooms, plus other several school facility improvement projects.
The CIP plan notes that the number of students enrolled in the 20 public school system continues to grow. From 7, 710 students in 1993, the enrollment in 2005 reached 11,630 and the system projects it to grow to 14,350 in 2012.
“The seven-year CIP plan identifies $50 million in school facilities including the new schools, additional classrooms, repairs/renovations and additional school facilities such as gymnasia, paved parking, track and field, baseball field, covered walkways and electrical upgrades needed for computers, air conditioners as well as repair to lighting and air conditioning system at all of our public schools” said PSS Commissioner Rita Hocog Inos.
“We encourage our parents and the leaders of the CNMI to watch this program. Parents and community leaders need to know about the current condition of our school facilities as the classroom environment does affect student learning,” the commissioner added.
The program will air every Monday and Thursday, from 6:30pm to 7:30pm until Feb. 2. (PR)
