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JICA Volunteers in Palau

◆Alii from Palau!

Hajime Hayakawa
JICA Senior Volunteer

(1. With my colleagues in Angaur)

　　I have been working in Palau for one year since coming here in March 2012. My office is in the Ministry of Education (MOE) which administers schools from elementary through high school. MOE has two divisions, School Management and Curriculum & Instruction. I have been assigned to the latter. My job is mainly consists of two parts. The first is support for MOE in implementing a new curriculum for which new textbooks have recently been introduced. The second is improvement of the communication between the specialists at MOE and the JICA volunteers who are working in the Palauan elementary schools.

　　　 My first job was to attend promotion and graduation ceremonies. There are 16 elementary schools in Palau and every member of MOE is required to attend some of the ceremonies. I visited the school in Anguar and brought back great memories. I wasn't used to the weather in Palau and went to Anguar on a boat　wearing an island formal shirt. On the way, we experienced a sudden　shower and big waves. I got soaked to the skin.

(2. Consulting with my counter-part)

　　　 My usual work takes place in front of my laptop computer which I brought here from Japan (see the picture). I have often observed math classes, evaluated them, and given feedback to the teachers. Sometimes I have checked Palauan achievement tests to correct any mistakes in the problems. Once a month I have a meeting with JICA volunteer teachers to discuss matters at their respective schools. I communicate back to MOE members on the issues discussed at the meetings. We have planned, participated in, and supported various workshops. The biggest activity this year will be the JICA Micronesia Math Seminar 2013 in Palau, wherein JICA volunteers　and their counter-parts from the three Micronesian countries (Palau, FSM and RMI) and Palauan educators will get together to discuss math education in each country. We are going to share the results with the Palauan teachers.

　　　 I would like to talk about my private life. I jog every morning around 5:30 AM to maintain my health. I pass a park (see the picture) and greet the Palauans who swim or walk there. While I am at the office from 8:00 to 17:00 on weekdays, I am engaged in my job, but I snorkel and read books at the beach at PPR (the Palau Pacific Resort) hotel on weekends.

　　　Finally I would talk about Palauan education. The Palauan teachers and parents of students are very concerned about education. They attend workshops or open classes with enthusiasm and ask many questions of educators like us. When I think of the great eagerness with which the Palauan people educate their children, I can believe that the future of Palau is bright. I hope to able to help them in some way to reach that future.

(4. Sun set at the PPR hotel beach)

(3. The neighborhood park)