By: Eoghan Olkeriil Ngirudelsang
NGERULMUD, Palau — Lawmakers are pushing for schools to teach all subjects in Palauan from kindergarten through third grade, saying students must learn to speak their native language from an early age if it is to survive.
A bill introduced Tuesday during the first day of the House of Delegates’ second special session proposes to make Palauan the sole language of instruction for students in kindergarten to grade three in all chartered and publicly funded schools.
House Bill 12-21-2S, introduced by Delegate Sebastian Marino, aims to amend Title 22 of the Palau National Code to require that not just Palauan studies, but all core subjects at early grade levels, be taught entirely in Palauan.
Currently, Palauan law requires schools to offer Palauan studies from grades one to 12 as part of the core curriculum. However, Marino and other supporters argue that a single subject in Palauan is not enough to help young children speak the language fluently when the rest of their classes are taught in English.
“Just one Palauan studies class is not enough to override English when it’s used for instruction of other core subjects; students will eventually just speak English,” said Delegate Rebecca Ngirmechaet in support of the bill.
Marino explained that Palau officially recognizes three languages: the main Palauan language and two regional ones—Sonsorolese and Tobian (Hatohobei). The bill notes that while only the main Palauan language would be mandatory, the use of the two regional dialects would be optional, especially in schools in the Southwest Islands.
“It will be up to the teachers in those areas to decide how to include both the main language and the regional dialects,” Marino said in response to a question from Delegate Kemesong. He clarified that Sonsorolese and Tobian are not dialects, but separate languages.
Delegate Ngirchoimei highlighted that the bill specifically requires Palauan to be the only language used for all subjects in early grades. English or other languages could be introduced starting in fourth grade, either for core or elective subjects, depending on the school’s discretion.
Support for the bill was strong among lawmakers, with many emphasizing the need to reach children during critical language development years.
The bill passed its first reading in the House of Delegates.