November 2nd 2023
Kolonia, Pohnpei – The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) Government has launched the World Bank supported FSM Skills and Employability Enhancement (SEE) project, marking a historic milestone in the growth of educational and employment opportunities for the people of FSM.
Launched at an event at the World Bank’s office in Pohnpei on November 2nd, the US$17.7 million project will invigorate job opportunities and vocational training across the nation. Over the next five years, the SEE project will provide funding and technical assistance to Kosrae, Pohnpei, Chuuk, and Yap, to enhance the quality of vocational skills and employment opportunities among young people. The SEE project will focus on three key areas:
• Equitable Access to Vocational Education: The SEE project will ensure Micronesians have equitable and inclusive access to vocational education and training, with a special emphasis on opportunities for disadvantaged and marginalized students.
• Cutting-Edge Technical and Vocational Education: The project will empower students with state-of-the-art technical and vocational education, courses that match job opportunities, well-trained trainers, and a rigorous skills testing and certification processes.
• Crafting Job Pathways: Courses will adapt to the job market with career counselling and engagement with the private sector to help link students to the jobs and careers that are right for them.
The project will also build awareness of the benefits and opportunities of technical and vocational education with a special focus on people with disabilities and those from outer-islands and low-income families.
Finally, the project will offer cutting-edge job search assistance services while partnering with employers, so graduates are matched to the right jobs, faster.
Acting Secretary Wayne Mendiola of the National Department of Education, and the former Secretary of Education, Gardenia Aisek, who played key roles in the design, planning, and guidance of the project, both commented on the potential the SEE Project stands to unlock in FSM and the multifaceted approach of the project which will provide direct financial assistance to students alongside performance grants to schools to prop up FSM students while ensuring the institutions they attend are more effective.
“At the heart of our vision lies the profound significance of skills development in empowering our communities and bolstering our economic resilience” commented Mendiola while adding that “nurturing skills not only fosters individual growth but also unlocks a multitude of economic opportunities with essential skills and knowledge, we empower them to become active contributors to our nation’s economic stability and sustainability.”
With a commitment to fostering inclusive, high-quality, and market-relevant vocational education and training, the SEE project stands as a beacon of hope for thousands of Micronesian youth, paving the way for a future defined by increased opportunities and enhanced skill development. As the nation rallies behind this transformative initiative, there is a shared optimism that the SEE project will not only shape the careers of countless job seekers but also lay the groundwork for sustainable economic growth and prosperity across FSM.
“We are very honored that the FSM government has asked the World Bank to support them achieving their educational goals” said Degi Young, the World Bank’s Resident Representative in FSM, “Ultimately, this project aims to ensure that the people of FSM have the opportunity to be employed and it does so by providing students with training and education that is effective, accessible and relevant for the existing job market, so that students can move from education to employment faster and more effectively.”
