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The Toll of Natural Disasters on Education in Micronesia and the Needs of Education During Recovery

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The Toll of Natural Disasters on Education in Micronesia and the Needs of Education During Recovery International Journal of Technology and Inclusive Education (IJTIE), Volume 8, Issue 2, December 2019 The Toll of Natural Disasters on Education in Micronesia and the Needs of Education During Recovery Michelle LaBrunda1, Mary Jane Miller2, Naushad Amin3 University of South Florida1 University of Guam2 GloMed LLC3 Abstract Micronesia is a large subregion of Oceana area is roughly divided into four main archipelagos located north of the equator in the Pacific Ocean. It each with numerous islands. The population is spans over 290,000 square miles and includes some around 600,000 [1]. The region is prone to 2500 islands, of which approximately 120 are numerous types of natural disasters due to its unique populated. While cultural trends exist, the region is geography and geology. Despite being one of the extremely diverse in its language and culture. most disaster-prone areas in the world, the area is Micronesia is located on the Ring-of-Fire and can be almost non-existent if one were to judge based on subject to a multitude of natural disasters including world media coverage. typhoons, earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions, Politically, Micronesia is divided into five tsunamis, and flooding due to climate change. Of countries and three US territories. The countries are these, typhoons, earthquakes, draughts, and flooding the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Kiribati, are most notable. Because the islands are remote, Marshall Islands and Nauru. The US territories are support small populations, and have frequent Guam, US Minor Outlying Islands, and the Northern disasters, humanitarian aid efforts in the region Mariana Islands. The Federated States of Micronesia require a unique approach. Worldwide, there is has four large states, Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, and growing evidence that education during times of Kosrae, each with its own laws, culture, language disaster is important for the health of the community, group, and departments of education [2]. however, this aspect of recovery is often neglected. Micronesia lies along the “Ring of Fire”. This is The available data for normal educational programs a zone of significant seismic and volcanic activity in Micronesia is limited and information regarding due to the convergence of the Pacific and Philippine condition of education during times of recovery from tectonic plates resulting in the Pacific Plate being natural disasters is even more incomplete. pushed under the Philippine plate [3]. Each Island is unique, but some generalities can be made. There are two types of islands, the more common volcanic 1. Introduction and the less common atoll. Volcanic islands tend to have jagged hills, while the atoll islands are coral Humanitarian crisis can occur in any population based and almost at sea level. Atolls are found all from the smallest village to the largest city. Basic across the Micronesian region but the ones in the human needs vary little regardless of location; it is Marshall Islands and Kiribati are particularly important, however, to understand that the response troubled by rising sea levels [4]. These low-lying to every crisis cannot be undertaken in the same way. atolls are very susceptible to the effects of storms, Certainly, every population needs water, food, tsunamis, and climate change. Micronesia has some shelter, medical care, and education, but of the most picturesque landscapes in the world. The humanitarian aid following natural disasters must be cost of these beautiful island landscapes is the offered within the framework of the location, potential for damage from earthquakes, typhoons, population and cultural traditions that exist. tsunamis, and drought. Population size, culture, geography, and weather all impact humanitarian efforts and the needs of children’s education are often further down the list of 3. Micronesia: Cultural Aspects restoration projects than they should be. Understanding of basic cultural norms is important in serving the needs of people in the wake 2. Micronesia: Physical Aspects of a natural disaster. In Micronesia there is not a single culture, rather there are many distinct cultures. Micronesia is comprised of a culturally and Even within an island nation, language and cultural linguistically diverse group of island nations. It is a norms often differ from island to island. The islands subregion of Oceana located in the Pacific Ocean are remote, and facilities vary greatly. Some are and comprised of approximately 2500 islands. The without running water or electricity, yet others are Copyright © 2019, Infonomics Society 1478 International Journal of Technology and Inclusive Education (IJTIE), Volume 8, Issue 2, December 2019 well developed with international phone systems and education system. Micronesian students typically high-speed internet. work well in groups but may have difficulty with Family is of primary importance in all direct discussions [2]. This general tendency may Micronesian societies. Family generally consists of extend into adult society when working with more than just the basic nuclear family and includes humanitarian aid groups. Westerners may find less a number of extended family members, and in some apparent responsiveness to an “authority figure” than cases close friends. It is common for people from they expect, but as a cultural norm, perhaps it should traditional Micronesian cultures to miss school, be anticipated. work, or other responsibilities due to family obligations [1]. 5. Types of Natural Disaster There is rich linguistic diversity in Micronesia. Many of the languages only have a few thousand The majority of the Micronesian islands are speakers or less and are considered endangered north of the equator and classified as tropical. The languages [5]. The major languages of the area, seasons consist of the rainy season from July to other than English, are Palauan, Yapese, Ulithian, October and the dry season from November to June. Woleaian, Chuukese, Pohnpeian, Kosraean, In addition to finding itself on the Ring-of-Fire, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi, Marshallese, Chamorro, Micronesia is also in a region called “Typhoon Carolinian, and Kiribati (also called Gilbertese). Alley”. Typhoon Alley is the most active region in Even if islands are geographically in close proximity, the world for tropical storms. Typhoon is the Pacific they may have completely unrelated native regional name for tropical storms of hurricane languages. English is the official language, or one of strength, but typhoons are often more powerful than the official languages, on most of the islands, but not their counterparts in the Atlantic. Since the year everyone speaks English. English is generally stated 2000, the area has been ravaged by over 40 super- as the language of instruction in school, but daily typhoons. This is almost four times the number of lessons are often more in the local language than in hurricanes seen in the Atlantic. This occurs because English [6]. There can be differences in language the Pacific Ocean is larger so after a storm forms even within the same tribal region based on gender there is a larger amount of surrounding warm water and social status [7]. Following a natural disaster, if in which it can gain strength without colliding with a families from more than one island are evacuated to land mass. Some houses and buildings on the islands a common area it is important to keep in mind that are built to withstand severe storms, but many more they are unlikely to have identical language are damaged or destroyed during severe weather backgrounds. events. Each Micronesian culture is comprised of a Micronesia is a seismically active region due to unique combination of social, cultural, and linguistic the movement of tectonic plates. Challenger Deep in features that directly impact the people, the the Marianas trench is the deepest known point on education system and how these societies will the planet at 10,916 meters deep. To put this in respond to disasters and disaster recover. perspective, if Mount Everest were placed on the bottom of the trench it would be covered by a mile of 4. Education System in Micronesia water. As the Pacific and Philippine plates collide, they not only produce volcanoes and deep trenches, Before discussing education in the context of but also earthquakes. While active volcanoes do exist humanitarian disasters there must be a basic in the region, they are generally not a source of understanding of the educational systems in serious natural disasters. However, Micronesia is an Micronesia. As with so many aspects of extremely seismically active area. In a typical 30- Micronesian culture, there is a great deal of diversity day period in 2018, there were over 120 earthquakes in education systems. greater than or equal 2.5 on the Richter scale, and in Education is important in the Micronesian the last 40 years there have been at least 4 islands, but sometimes in a different way than in earthquakes in the region that rated 7.0 or higher on Western countries. Traditional education systems the Richter scale [8]. involved parents and elders informally instructing In coastal regions, earthquakes have serious the younger generation. In some island cultures consequences in the form a tsunamis, although not children are discouraged from asking questions or all earthquakes produce tsunamis. Earthquakes rated making eye contact with the teacher or other adult. 6.5 or higher are more likely to cause tsunamis and They may seldom be allowed to speak to elders since earthquakes in locations outside
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