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Ministry of Education reviews Palau mathematics program
In September, Palau Minister of Education Sinton Soalablai visited Palau Community College to review the mathematics program implemented by Dr. Shelly Louise Dole, an Australian Mathematics Education Development Advisor. He was accompanied by Education Administration director Andrew Tabelual, Bureau of Curriculum & Instruction director Debbie Tkel-Sbal, Division of School Management chief Raynold Mechol, Division of Instructional Implementation & Teacher Training chief Janet Orrukem, and Health & Science specialist Debbie R. Nagata.
A team from Australia also visited the campus to conduct their own evaluation of the program on Sept. 25, 2014.
From left to right, Division of School Management chief Raynold Mechol, Bureau of Curriculum & Instruction director Debbie Tkel-Sbal, Palau Community College president Dr. Patrick U. Tellei, Health & Science specialist Debbie R. Nagata, Minister of Education Sinton Soalablai, Division of Instructional Implementation & Teacher Training chief Janet Orrukem, and Education Administration director Andrew Tabelual. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Dole provided training on key educational outcomes of mathematical literacy for teachers in Palau. Training sessions explored hands-on mathematical learning experiences to promote the capacity and confidence of students in using mathematics in the world. Concepts covered included place value, fractions, ratio, proportion and percentage, mental computation, measurement and geometry connections, statistical literacy, and algebraic thinking.
Several training sessions were hosted at different venues in Palau, including the Assembly Hall of Palau Community College. Each workshop was conducted under the instruction of Dole.
Dole is a volunteer from the Australian Volunteers International. Her position at Palau Community College is funded by the Australian Agency for International Development and is aligned with the government of Australia’s partnership agreement with the government of Palau.
The main objectives of her assignment were to improve the quality of mathematics teaching and learning at Palau’s local schools and Ministry of Education; and, through Palau Community College, build the capacity for Palauan teachers to deliver the Singapore Mathematics curriculum in classrooms. (PCC)
