Program Description

Pohnpei State, one of four States in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) hosts the national government of this central Pacific island nation.  The island of Pohnpei is lush, with many waterfalls, extensive mangrove swamps (home to mangrove crabs!) a high, mountainous center and small villages along the coast.  It boasts the fascinating prehistoric ruins of Nan Madol, as well as the premier intellectual think-tank on Micronesia, the Jesuit-run Micronesian Seminar. 

In July 2006, WorldTeach began its first full academic year program on Pohnpei, with seven volunteers teaching at three schools in Kolonia, Madolenihmw, and Kitti. Volunteers receive 3-4 weeks of orientation, including language (Pohnpeian), teacher, and cross-cultural training.  Although high school classes are conducted in English, the need for English instruction was assessed during WorldTeach’s pilot semester in Pohnpei.  The WorldTeach volunteers quickly adapted to the schools’ needs, and some volunteers now teach English, while others teach math and science. 

Like the rest of Micronesia, the culture of Pohnpei is in transition, with the resultant challenges to individuals, families and communities.  Schools have also come under transition and we anticipate that the WorldTeach FSM program will continue to grow, with requests for more volunteers and placements in other FSM States (Yap, Chuuk, and Kosrae).

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Volunteer Role

Volunteers should be prepared to teach math, science, or English, and to be flexible to the needs of the school.  Applicants with college classes in math and science will be given preference, although a math or science degree is not a requirement.  Pohnpeian is the native language, but English is commonly spoken throughout the FSM, especially on Pohnpei.  High school students will know English well; classes will be taught in English. 

There are both public and private schools on Pohnpei. Primary education is compulsory for Grades 1–8. Children are required to begin first grade at the age of six.  Entrance to high school is determined by achievement on a high school entrance examination.  About one-third of the elementary graduates pass the examination annually.  According to the PREL website, “All schools strive to teach English Language Arts, Vernacular Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Cultural Studies, Health, and Physical Education.”

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Placement Sites, Housing, Food

All volunteers will live in, or within relatively easy traveling distance to Kolonia, the capital of Pohnpei State.  Kolonia is described either as the largest village or the only town on Pohnpei.  Volunteers will live together in apartments and not with host families, which will present challenges to getting “inside the culture.”  However, Micronesians are welcoming and thoughtful volunteers should have no problem getting to know the interesting culture of the FSM.

Volunteers will teach at high schools in Kolonia or Madolenihmw, or Kitti.  Apartments are provided at each of the sites by the State Department of Education, and approved by WorldTeach for the volunteers.

Natural staple foods throughout the FSM are fish, breadfruit, pandanus, coconut, bananas and papaya. Micronesians raise chickens and pigs and eat a lot of imported rice. There is a wide variety of US and Japanese imported food at the three grocery stores in Kolonia.  Pohnpei has mangrove crabs which are highly sought-after by foreigners and locals alike, but most Micronesians get their protein from fish, both the smaller reef and the larger ocean fish.  There are a number of good restaurants on Pohnpei, and an excellent restaurant at The Village, a charming hotel that replicates a romantic notion of South Pacific, complete with spectacular views, thatched roof buildings, and a first-class chef. 

Length of Program

The program begins with orientation, lasting from mid-July through mid-August.  Following in-country orientation training, volunteers will teach for one academic year at their assigned school. The school year begins in late August and runs through late May.

Applications are processed on a rolling basis.  One or two early applicants might be accepted for the program, but due to the competitively few teaching spaces available in Pohnpei, the decisions for the upcoming year's program will not be made until February, six months before the July departure.

Cost of Program

This program is fully-funded by the Pohnpei State Department of Education through money allocated by JEMCO, the Joint Economic Management Committee of Micronesians and Americans which oversees the grant money to Micronesia from the Compact of Free Association with the United States.  This generous funding provides the cost of pre-departure information and preparation, round-trip international airfare from a US departure city (mostly likely Los Angeles), orientation, health insurance, a monthly volunteer stipend and a monthly allowance for food.

There is a $1,500 required deposit which will be refunded to volunteers upon completion of the program.

Please read more about costs and services.

Requirements

WorldTeach volunteers who are comfortable with math and science, and who were successful at their own college math and science classes, should do well teaching at PICS.  Applicants with college classes in math and science will be given preference, although a math or science degree is not a prerequisite.   

Volunteers must be native-English speakers, must hold a bachelor’s degree (in any subject) from a recognized college or university, must be flexible, must be committed to teaching and international development, and must have the desire to live and teach in a remote location.

For placements at the College of Micronesia, volunteers will teach more advanced classes, and so there is a strong preference for applicants with master's degrees.  If you have an advanced degree and would like to serve in FSM, please contact us immediately!

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