The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) marked another important milestone in strengthening skills development opportunities for young people through the handover of new vocational equipment to all three public high schools in Pohnpei under the Skills and Employability Enhancement (SEE) Project.
Hed at Pohnpei Island Central School (PICS), the ceremony brought together national and state leaders, educators, students, and development partners. The participating schools included all three public high schools in Pohnpei – PICS, Nanpei Memorial High School, and Madolenihmw High School.
In welcoming guests, H.E. Wesley W. Simina, President of the Federated States of Micronesia, Ms. Tatiana A. Proskuryakova, Pacific Islands 1 Division Director, World Bank, Hon. Arthur Albert, Acting Secretary, NDOE, and Mr. Stanley Etse, Director, Pohnpei Department of Education, emphasized that the equipment represents more than just new tools and machinery. Along with the newly developed 18 CTE curricula, these investments are intended to expand hands-on learning opportunities and enable high schools to offer a wide range of CTE programs, equipping students with strong foundational occupational knowledge and skills that can serve as a pathway to employment, entrepreneurship, and further education.
The equipment handover forms part of the SEE Project’s broader support to improve skills development and employability across all four states. The Project is supporting schools through improved CTE facilities, new competency-based curricula, teacher capacity development, and equipment for practical training.
Delivering the keynote address, President Wesley W. Simina highlighted investment in human capacity as a foundation for national development. He noted that the country’s greatest resource is its people and stressed the need for skilled workers to support infrastructure development and maintenance, public services, businesses, and economic growth.
The President also emphasized the importance of providing young Micronesians with multiple pathways to succeed, whether through higher education, technical trades, entrepreneurship, or employment. Strengthening CTE can help ensure students develop the knowledge, confidence, and practical skills needed to pursue these pathways.
A key part of this effort is the introduction of a new four-year progressive CTE model, which is being piloted this school year in Pohnpei, Kosrae and Yap. Beginning in Grade 9, students explore various occupations in different trades and progressively develop their occupational knowledge and skills throughout high school.
Speakers also acknowledged that strengthening CTE requires more than equipment alone. Appropriate training facilities, qualified teachers, relevant curricula, and continued support to schools are all essential to building a sustainable technical and vocational education system.
The ceremony highlighted the partnership among the FSM National Government, the Pohnpei State Government, participating schools, educators, and the World Bank in laying the foundation for long-term skills development opportunities for young Micronesians.
In closing, students were encouraged to make full use of the new resources available to them. The National Department of Education emphasized that the success of the investment will ultimately be measured not by the equipment itself, but by the skills students develop and the opportunities those skills create for them and their communities.
The SEE Project is financed by the World Bank and implemented by the FSM National Department of Education across all four FSM States. The Project will continue through June 2027, providing an opportunity to build on the progress achieved and further strengthen CTE across the Federated States of Micronesia.
