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FSM Association of Chief State School Officers Finds Solutions to Remedy Audit's Non-Compliance Findings

Kosrae, FSM (FSM Information Services): July 2, 2010 - The FSM Association of Chief State School Officers (FACSSO) met twice during the 2010 Micronesia Teachers Education Conference being held in Kosrae from June 29 to July 2, to discuss the job and management audit of the State Departments of Education (DOE) and the FSM National DOE.

In particular, the audit revealed that each State DOE was non-compliant in the following areas: strategic and annual planning, professional standards, policies and procedures, in-service training for employees, recruitment practices for new employees, consistency in curriculum development, programs with special education and information management.

As a result of their discussions, the FACSSO team adopted a resolution to establish a Management Audit Think Tank Education Reform (MATTER) body for each state and for the National DOE to monitor and ensure the implementation of corrective actions to remedy all non-compliance findings outlined in the audit. The MATTER members shall be appointed by FACSSO and will include Board of Education members, as well as National DOE Accreditation Specialists. MATTER activities will be posted daily on the National DOE webpage (www.fsmed.fm).

FACSSO also adopted a resolution to contact the relevant government agencies to speed up the installation of the Rural Internet Connectivity Systems for outer island schools across the FSM. Three units have already been installed, one such unit has been set up at Moch School. "The internet connection is working great, we now have access to so much information," said Sitae Smith, teacher at Moch School; "and we can connect with our family and friends in the other islands."

A third resolution was adopted by FACSSO to allow the FSM Close-Up 2011 program to take place in January 2011 instead of May 2011. The FSM Close-Up Program enlists the 40 top-performing high school seniors of FSM to participate in a program based in Palikir, introducing the students to the inner workings of the executive, legislative and judiciary branches of government.

FACSSO is comprised of the following individuals: Margaret Margou, Yap Director of Education, Gardenia Aisek, Chuuk Director of Education, Paul Hadik, Kosrae Director of Education, Joseph Villazon, Pohnpei Director of Edcuation, Spensin James, President of COM-FSM and Casiano Shoniber, FSM Secretary of Education.