FSM: ‘We are losing our culture and values’

POMPHI (PMN) – It took the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) nearly five months to receive financial support from the United States under the Compact of Free Association (COFA).

After five months of delay, US President Joe signed the COFA agreement for the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau and the Marshall Islands in March.

The U.S. Senate has provided $7.1 billion in funding for the three countries over the past 20 years. The approval is part of a $460 billion spending package.

While the three COFA countries welcomed the funding, Federated States of Micronesia Education Secretary Gardenia Aisek said the government must spend the $106 million by the end of September.

Isaac said many events have been postponed and services for remote schools have been delayed, including the Education Leadership Conference.

“I have been voicing my concerns since June, but of course this is not for us to decide, this is for the US government to decide.”

Marshall Islands President Dr. Hilda Heine said the funding represented “a big step” for her country.

Heine, who hosted New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters in Majuro this week, told reporters it was a “good start”.

“We still have issues that we are working to address through federal programs and services.

“We have to develop an annual implementation plan and submit a plan for next year.

“We weren’t sure when it would arrive, so of course it was a little bit nervous, but so far so good,” Heine said.

Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters at a school in the capital of the Federated States of Micronesia on the island of Pohnpei.

The pressure is growing from Freedom Alliance leaders, who warn that Chinese influence in the islands could grow if the United States does not live up to its East Coast Agreement commitments.

Palau President Surangel Whipps said in a letter to the U.S. Senate on February 9 that every day the agreement is not ratified, the United States is “doing China’s bidding.”

He warned that some Palau leaders were choosing to accept China’s “seemingly attractive economic overtures.”

Federated States of Micronesia President Wesley Simina said the approval opened a new chapter and was good news.

Simina said Biden’s road to signing the agreement is longer than expected and challenging for the three countries.

The FSM’s ministries of health and education are fully funded by COFA and are modeled after the U.S. system, something Isaac said they hope to change.

“We are applying for a transformation grant from the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) to transform our education system,” said Esek.

“So, we are looking at integrating our culture and indigenous knowledge into our curriculum.

“We have been overthrown by different governments, with the US being the last government before our independence.

“Our culture has never been a part of learning and curriculum. But now we realise that the younger generation knows nothing about our culture.

“So we realise that we are losing our culture and our values. We need to integrate it into the curriculum and teach it from early childhood education to high school.”

Pohnpei Governor Stevenson A. Joseph also acknowledged that the Federated States of Micronesia needs to regain control of its education system.

“We are obligated to operate our schools and health departments in a certain way because of the funding because there are strings attached to the funding,” Joseph said.

“I don’t really believe that. I think as Indigenous people we need to manage our education and health sectors based on what we understand and what works best for our people.”

“Since COFA is considered a grant, there are many requirements and compliances.

“Sometimes we have a hard time meeting these compliance issues, which causes funding to stagnate… I think we need to make some improvements.

“A lot of people might say that these funds were given to us out of kindness. But I don’t think that’s the case.

“We receive these funds for a very specific reason, and that is to defend the United States.”

Peters, who is visiting four Pacific countries, arrived in the Federated States of Micronesia on Tuesday and announced that New Zealand will support education in the North Pacific region, including the Federated States of Micronesia.

Peters is the first New Zealand government official to hold bilateral talks with the President of the Federated States of Micronesia.

“Our engagement in the Federated States of Micronesia is an important opportunity to hear the perspectives of local political leaders, deepen our understanding of Micronesia’s priorities, and demonstrate our continued commitment to the region,” he said…PACNEWS

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