FSM TEACHER CERTIFICATION POLICY (As Amended, 2008)
I. Purpose
The FSM Teacher Certification Policy, hereinafter refers as "Policy", is hereby established to provide minimum standards for teacher certification based on applicable performance competencies and educational backgrounds.
II. Statutory Requirements
This Policy is established pursuant to Title 40, FSMC §114 and in accordance with the administrative procedural requirements contained in Title 17 FSMC §102 - § 104.
III. Definitions
These definitions shall apply to terms and concepts used in this policy only.
1. "Director" shall mean the applicable head of the Department of Education of the
states of Chuuk, Pohnpei, Yap and Kosrae in the Federated States of Micronesia.
2. "Secretary" shall mean the head of the Department of Education, FSM National
Government.
3. "Early Childhood Education " shall mean any public or non-public school that
provide standardized instructional and relevant services to children ages 3 to 5;
4. "Primary school" shall mean any public or non-public school that provides
standardized instructional and relevant services to children ages 6 to 13 or older,
but not more than 15.
5. "Secondary school" shall mean any public or non-public school that provides
standardized instruction and relevant services to adolescent youth ages 13 to 16
or older, but not more than 19.
6. "Teacher" shall mean any duly certified person whose formal duties and
responsibilities are to impart knowledge and skills to Students in the schools from
preschool to secondary school.
7. "Associate of Arts" degree shall equivalent to a 60 semester credits earned at an
accredited institution of higher education, hereinafter refers as "IHE".
8. "Associate of Science" degree shall equivalent to a 60 semester credits earned at
an accredited institution of higher education, IHE.
9. "FSM School System" shall include any public or non-public institution that
impart knowledge and skills to students at the preschool, primary and secondary
school levels in Chuuk, Pohnpei, Yap and Kosrae.
10. "Accredited Institution of Higher Education" shall mean any institution of higher
education that is accredited by internationally recognized accrediting agencies or
commissions.
11. "National Standardized Tests for Teachers" (NSTT) shall mean a duly developed
test for testing the content base competency skills and performance base
competency skills of teachers or would be teachers in the FSM.
IV. Teacher Certification Requirements
A person shall be issued certification to teach in the FSM School System pursuant to the provisions herein set forth by this section and subsequent sections thereof, and which shall bear the signature of the Secretary and the insignia of the fictional government. Said certificate shall be issued in manners as shall be prescribed by the Secretary. FSM Teacher Certificate shall be issued to those who met the educational background criteria and passed the National Standardized Tests for Teachers (NSTT). The following criteria shall establish the qualifications and eligibility requirements under this policy for which any person or group of persons applying for teaching positions or is currently teaching must meet prior to being issued certificates:
1. Educational Backgrounds
Any person applying for a teaching position or is currently teaching in any FSM School System must possess any of the following qualifications:
a. Associate of Arts (AA) degree or an Associate of Science (AS) degree to
be qualified to teach at ECE-8 level schools; and,
b. Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree or a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree to be
qualified to teach at 9-12 level schools.
c. Holder of degrees from non-US, accredited institutions shall submit
copies of their degrees and transcripts to be reviewed and approved by
the National Department of Education or its designated firm or
individual.
2. National Standardized Tests for Teachers (NSTT)
There shall be a National Standardized Tests for Teachers which shall be administered by the States' Department of Education. The scoring, analysis and reporting shall be performed within ten days after testing by the National Department of Education during the month of January and June of each year. Any person applying for a teaching position or who is currently teaching shall be required to pass the NSTT or its succeeding version to be qualified under this section. The NSTT shall be comprised of two sections:
a. Content Competency Component
The content competency component of the test shall measure the skill levels of new and current teachers in content areas such as language arts, math and science.
b. Teaching Competency Component
The teaching competency component of the test shall measure the skill levels of teachers in practical applications of teaching methods at ECE-12 levels. This component shall consist of two sections:
1) Written examination shall be made up of multiple choice type,
questions, fill-in the blank; and
2) Essay writings shall cover such topics relevant to teaching
methodologies and classroom management.
3. Certificate Eligibilities
Any new or current teacher who shall possess an associate and/or bachelor degree from any U.S. institution of higher education or its equivalent and also pass the NSTT shall be eligible to teach in any public or non-public schools of the FSM and shall be eligible for appropriate certifications under this policy:
a. An AA/AS degree holder shall be eligible to teach in any ECE - 8 level
schools; and,
b. A BA/BS or higher degree holder shall be eligible to teach in any 9-12
level schools.
4. Class and Types of Certifications
Teacher certification in the Federated States of Micronesia shall be of four (4) types
A. Basic Certificates
Basic certificates shall be issued to teachers possess AA/AS degree and above and passed NSTT Content Competency Component Math, Science
and Cloze Test. Such certificates shall be renewable after every four (4) years.
B. Advance Certificates
Advance Certificates shall be issued to teachers who posses AA/AS degree and above and passed NSTT Content Competency Component and Teaching Competency Component.
C. Special Certificates
All non-degree career and technical education (CTE) teachers must pass the standardized CTE aptitude tests before issuance of special certificates. The States Department of Education shall develop certificate requirements for their respective cultural education instructors.
D. Provisional Certificate
Provisional Certificates shall be issued only to teachers hired on contract, or short term basis or volunteers teaching in anipFSM schools or applying to teach in the FSM that possess valid teacher licenses or possess AA/AS degrees or their equivalents with transcripts from their last attended IHE.
5. Issuance of Certifications
The Offices of the Directors of Education for each State shall ensure that teachers fall within the provision of this policy are qualified accordingly. The Office of the Secretary is responsible for the issuance of applicable certificates to those teachers who meet the requirements as herein set forth. All certificates shall be issued upon respective State Director's request only.
V. Restrictions and Penalties
1. All certificates issued shall bear the original signatures of the Secretary. Any person found in possession of forged certificates for the purposes of deceit, malice and/or false duplication shall be guilty of an offense and shall be liable to a fine of up to USD $5,000 or imprisoned for no less than thirty (30) days or both.
VI. Issuance of Certificate Duplicates
Any holder of valid certificate who shall lose his/her certificate due to natural causes or misplacement may request for duplicate through the Office of the Principal who shall file
a request to the Office of the Director. Procedure for requesting duplicates shall be in accordance with part (IV)(5) of this policy. A nominal service fee of $20 (USD) shall be imposed and applied only to requests for duplicates and shall be payable to the FSM Treasury prior to the submission of such request to the Office of the Secretary.
VII. Validation of Certificates
The Secretary of Education or a duly designated official on his/her behalf shall validate all certificates by affixing their signatures on the said documents with the official insignia of the department. The Department shall be responsible for safe-keeping and securing of copies of all valid certificates issued by the department.
VIII. Teacher Certificate Guidelines
The National Department of Education shall establish guidelines for implementing the FSM Teacher Certification Policy within ninety (90) days after the signing of this policy.
IX. Adoption
This FSM Teacher Certification Policy shall be deemed amended and shall become effective on the date the Secretary shall affix his/her signature unto this policy. All provisions herein shall upersede other prior provisions pertained to teacher certification in the Federated States of Micronesia.
