According to andyeducation, Palau is an island nation located in the western Pacific Ocean and is comprised of a total of 340 islands. The country has a population of around 18,000 people and has an educational system that is largely based on the American educational system. The Palau Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports is responsible for providing education to the children of Palau. The educational system in Palau provides students with access to free public education from pre-school up to grade 12. All schools are government-funded and are managed by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth & Sports. Primary education for children aged 4-6 years old is provided through kindergarten classes which are offered at both public and private schools throughout Palau. Primary school (grades 1-6) is also offered at both public and private schools while secondary school (grades 7-12) is only available at public institutions. In addition to traditional classroom instruction, there are also several vocational programs available for students who wish to pursue a career in a particular field such as carpentry or plumbing after completing their secondary school studies. These programs are usually offered at technical colleges or community colleges throughout the country. Higher education in Palau is provided by Palau Community College which was established in 1978 as part of the University of Guam system with its main campus located on Koror Island. The college offers associate’s degrees in various fields such as business administration, computer science and hospitality management as well as certificates in various fields such as nursing and teaching English as a second language (TESOL). In addition to its main campus on Koror Island, PCC also operates satellite campuses on Babeldaob Island and Peleliu Island which offer courses in business administration, computer science and hospitality management among other areas. Overall, the educational system in Palau provides students with access to quality education from pre-school up through higher education levels while also offering vocational programs that can help them gain skills necessary for certain careers after completing their studies. This ensures that all citizens have access to quality educational opportunities regardless of their financial situation or background due to its free public schooling system which helps promote social mobility within the country’s society. See educationvv for Palau educational systems.