NEEDS ASSESSMENT

The Northern Marianas Population Characteristics

The Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands has experienced an extremely rapid rate of economic growth in recent years. The major components of this growth include tourism, manufacturing, business development, and construction.

The 1990 Census indicated that out of 43, 345 people, there were 12,072 without a high school diploma among the 16 and up years old. Adding to this already existing number of non-high school population, the number of high school drop outs which numbered 163 represents 5% of the high school population last year. This means that the number of ABE target population is increasing.

Considering the GED diploma as the ultimate goal of the ABE students, the number of non-high school graduates is increasing rather than decreasing. The highest number of GED graduates we had was 40 and the rough average could be 27 a year for the last 5 years.

The CNMI has a critical need for Adult Basic Education (ABE) and General Educational Development (GED) programs. Data confirming this need are available. Additionally, there is a need to provide staff development and in- service training for administrators and instructors in both the ABE and GED programs.

Information to substantiate the need for a basic education program for adults can be summed best by reporting the attrition rate, comparing years of education with employment information, and concluding by citing an approximate number of adults who can directly benefit from Adult Basic Education program services.

The 1994-95 School Year Public School System Performance Report stated the current drop out rates at the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands (CNMI) as follows:

1. Public Elementary schools have a drop out rate of 2.91%. Of the 4,915 public elementary school students who started the year 4776 completed the school year leaving 139 drop outs.

2. Public Secondary Schools had a drop out rate of 5.48% for the year. Of the 3,140 students who started the year, 2,977 completed the school year, leaving 163 students who did not complete high school.

3. The U.S. median of high school graduates was 53.1% in 1981 compared to 18.5% in the Northern Marianas Islands, 19.6% in American Samoa, and 49.5% in Guam.

Private Schools both elementary and high school had 31 students dropping out overall. Both public and private schools had 352 students dropping out for the school year 1994-95.

Even with the lower level of attrition rate as compared to 10 years ago, the fact remains that the number of non-high school graduates is increasing. Overall, the relatively high attrition rates among students not completing high indicates a very critical need for Adult Basic Education (ABE).

One of the very important economic goal of the CNMI is to gradually lessen the alien contract labor. This could only be done by increasing the level of employability of the local population in order to be able to fill the existing and future jobs available.

The pool of people who are not now employed is adequate to fill the positions now available. Of course, there are other variables to contend with and these are even harder to overcome. Factors like pay level, interest, level of self-esteem, for example are issues that are not directly under the control of the program.

There is a very close correlation between the work status of the individual and the level of education. The lower the education, the less work hours the individual has hence less income than the one who has at least a high school diploma.

This alone indicate a very critical need for Adult Education Program from the Literacy, ESL, Pre-GED and Adult Secondary Education or the GED level. In fact a higher level of funding will afford the program to set aside more money for more classes and a little bit more for advertising and informational drive repeated at least 6 times a year in order to reach the core population that needs the service.

Additionally, a study conducted by the CNMI Department of Commerce and Labor (Current Labor Force Survey, 1984 updated 1982) reported several interesting facts regarding education levels and employment information. For example:

The work status of persons 16 years of age and older with less than 12 years of education indicated that: a) 4,775 were employed; b) 176 were unemployed; and c) 7,121 were not in the labor force.

2. The median income of the employed in 1992 was $5,395 annually. Most persons with incomes greater than $20,000 per annum possessed more than 12 years of education.

Using this labor market study, there is a need to upgrade the educational level of the 12,072 people census reported. Also, there is an indication that upgrading their educational level will have a positive effect on increasing their wages.

The adult education program currently serves 350 adults a year on the islands of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota with the majority of adults being served on Saipan. The enrollment has been steadily increasing over the years. Likewise the retention has been improving, we are retaining more every year.

Presently, the Northern Marianas College acts as both the State and Local Educational Agency for adult education. Although provisions have been made in past state plans for subgrants to public or private agencies and organizations in the delivery of instructional services, no applications have been received. It should be stated here that there is a dearth of private organizations which deliver formal instructional services. The program attempted several times to subgrant. We were able to get "Karidat" one of our social services to conduct a couple of workshops. Lately, there has been no positive response to our informal call for subgrants and there has been no response to our RFP.

Needs Assessment Topic Areas