On Thursday evening, December 7, 2017, PICRC held a book launching ceremony to formally introduce the book titled, “Paradise of Nature: Understanding the Wonders of Palau”, to the public. Minister of Education, Honorable Minister Sinton Soalablai delivered the special remarks during the ceremony.
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In his speech he highlights the importance of this book to the Palauan education system. He reflects on the past and how Palauan students’ science education was focused more on examples from outside Palau, not utilizing our environment and local sources for school materials. In 2015, the science curriculum was revised and tailored to suit the learning needs for the students of Palau. Minister Soalablai emphasized the importance of this book, saying “It will provide place based scientific information that is practical, localized and relevant to our students. It is important that our students learn and experience what is around them before they learn what is out there.”
Over the past five years, Palau International Coral Reef Center (PICRC), along with the University of the Ryukyus and Palau Community College (PCC) worked collaboratively on the joint project called Palau Coral Reef and Island Ecosystem (P-CoRIE). Throughout the years, a collective effort was made to put together a book, with the sole purpose of providing Palau’s high school and college students with a scientific source of information on the current status of Palau’s terrestrial and marine environments.
Minister Sinton Soalablai received book copies for the Ministry of Education, while PCC President, Dr. Patrick U. Tellei received copies of the books for the college’s science department and library. Although there are limited hard copies of the book, all Public and Private High Schools will receive copies of the new book. [/restrict]