Overview:
Lawmakers in Palau are raising urgent concerns about children slipping through gaps in the education and justice systems, with some only identified after entering the criminal justice process. A proposed law aims to separate young offenders from adult inmates while expanding rehabilitation and education support.
HOD hearing highlights need for rehabilitation-focused facilities and alternative education pathways
By: Eoghan Olkeriil Ngirudelsang
KOROR, Palau (March 24, 2026) — Lawmakers in Palau are raising concerns about children and young adults falling through gaps in the country’s education and justice systems, as efforts continue to reform how juvenile offenders are treated.
A hearing held 11 days ago by the House of Delegates Committee on Judiciary and Governmental Affairs highlighted long-standing issues affecting at-risk youth, including exposure to adult inmates, lack of supervision, and limited access to education for those who drop out of school.
At the center of the discussion is the proposed Delinquent Children Act, which passed its first reading on May 8, 2025, after nearly a year of development. The bill seeks to establish separate facilities for juvenile offenders, removing them from the general inmate population at Koror Jail.
Sanya Olkeriil, chief of the Juvenile Division at the Ministry of Justice, told lawmakers the issue has persisted for years.
“This is a long-standing issue that we have been trying to advocate for,” Olkeriil said, emphasizing that juvenile facilities should be “out of bounds and out of sight” from adult detention centers.
She warned that exposing minors to adult inmates can have lasting negative effects, increasing the likelihood of reoffending.
“Being influenced and exposed to hardened criminals can have lasting effects on a young person’s behavior,” Olkeriil said.
Olkeriil also stressed that any new facility should not function as a traditional prison. Instead, she said it should serve as a safe, rehabilitative space where young offenders can access counseling and structured programs to help them reintegrate into society.
The hearing also revealed concerns about school-age children who are no longer part of the education system and remain unaccounted for. Olkeriil said authorities are currently working with 10 such children, who were only identified after being arrested for criminal activity.
Their cases have raised questions about how to support youth who have been out of school for extended periods and are unable to return to traditional classrooms due to age and grade-level gaps.
Smyth Rdang, principal of Palau High School, shared one example of a student who dropped out in the fourth grade and is now of high school age. Officials are exploring options for the student to enroll in vocational courses instead of a standard academic track.
Rdang said the issue is compounded by broader social challenges, including the rise of working parents and limited supervision for students outside school hours.
“When students are suspended, they are often sent home to empty houses,” Rdang said. “With a lot of idle time, they are at risk of getting into trouble in their communities.”
He noted that while schools have adopted in-school suspension policies to reduce time spent outside supervision, repeat offenders may still face out-of-school suspension.
“Schools can only go so far,” Rdang said.
Lawmakers and officials at the hearing agreed that the current system often reacts only after youth have already entered the criminal justice process. They called for earlier intervention, expanded education alternatives, and the creation of dedicated juvenile facilities focused on rehabilitation rather than punishment.
The proposed reforms aim to ensure that children who break the law are protected from harmful environments and given the support needed to change course before becoming repeat offenders.