School in Nauru

The Department of Education and Training (DOET) administers school education under the Education Act 2011. The Minister for Education and Training, DOET divisions, the Teacher Registration and Curriculum Board, principals and school providers share responsibilities. The Naoero Language Commission and the Nauru Bureau of Statistics also contribute to language policy and education data. Nauru has four infant schools, three primary schools, including a Catholic provider, and two secondary-level schools: Nauru Secondary School, also called NSS or Nauru State School, and Nauru College. Nauru Primary School and Yaren Primary School are government primary schools. The Able Disable Centre serves children who cannot attend a regular school. Nauru College has historically served approximately Years 7 to 9, while NSS has historically served approximately Years 10 to 12. These arrangements do not correspond exactly to German school types such as Gymnasium, Realschule or Gesamtschule. Parents must enroll a school-age child from 1 January of the year in which the child reaches at least four years of age until the end of the school year in which the child turns 18. Registered home education and a certificate of exemption are exceptions. A school or principal may request evidence supporting the enrollment arrangement. The available official material does not establish a national catchment, placement or online application procedure, so families should confirm the process directly with the chosen school or DOET. Children are expected to attend every school day. The principal may accept a reason for absence, including a religious or cultural occasion. Suspension, exclusion or a contagious disease can prevent attendance. The first attendance offence can attract a fine of $50, and a later offence in the same school year can attract $250. Employing a school-age child during school hours can attract a $1,000 fine. The 2025 school year had four terms of ten weeks; an older rule and parliamentary source described the school day as approximately 8:30 to 15:00, but families should confirm current daily hours with the school. Government school education is fee-free. Non-government school registration is required, and current fee schedules were not identified in the available research. A 2025 agreement for Sacred Heart College provided government support for staffing, training and resources. The Catholic Diocese of Tarawa and Nauru is a provider partner for that school. The Minister approves the curriculum for each year level on the recommendation of the Teacher Registration and Curriculum Board, and the principal must implement the approved curriculum. Current reform work covers science, mathematics, language, social science, and health and physical education. Early-years diagnostic checks and literacy and numeracy benchmarking are being developed. Naoero, also called Nauruan, remains locally relevant, while English dominates many education and public-service settings. Naoero language integration and policy are still being developed. Schools use formative and diagnostic tracking in the early years and class or subject awards from Years 1 to 12. The QCE is the school-leaving qualification used in Year 12. An Australian-linked ATAR programme has operated for cohorts from 2022, and schools also issue a school leavers certificate. QCE and ATAR provide a school-completion and transition pathway to tertiary study or scholarships; they are not a local equivalent of the German Abitur. Nauru's inclusion rules protect access to free primary and secondary education for children with disabilities. Schools can provide reasonable accommodation, individualised support and inclusive education. Diversified learning plans and classroom support officers are part of current support work; officers were serving Nauru College and Nauru Primary School, with expansion to NSS planned. The 2025 pre-primary enrollment rate was reported at 90%. Nauru Bureau of Statistics data from the 2021 census recorded attendance of 81.1% among children aged 7 to 12 and 59.5% among those aged 13 to 18. These figures measure attendance, not the number of children enrolled. DOET identified attendance improvement, teacher shortages and bullying reduction as reform priorities.