Supporting The Public Sector of Nauru

Education

There are 11 years of compulsory education starting at age six. The gross enrolment ratio for all levels combined is 53 per cent (2008) with a primary female–male ratio of 1.06:1 and a secondary female–male ratio of 1.2:1 (2008). The pupil–teacher ratio for primary school is 20:1 and for secondary 21:1 (2008).

For higher education, students need to go overseas, mainly to Australia and New Zealand, and scholarships are available for this. Nauru is a partner in the regional University of the South Pacific, which has a centre in Nauru and its main campus in Suva, Fiji.

The government recognises that diversification of the country’s economy is essential for economic growth and, since diversification necessitates skills development, education is becoming more and more of a priority.

Health

In 1999 Nauru’s two hospitals, the government-run Nauru General Hospital and the private Nauru Phosphate Corporation Hospital, amalgamated into the state-run Republic of Nauru Hospital (RONH) which provides free medical and dental treatment for all citizens. RONH is located in Yaren and provides basic medical care. Specialist

treatment is limited to diabetes and other obesity-related diseases at the Naeoro Public Health Centre, run by the Department of Public Health. Serious illnesses and injuries cannot be treated on the island, so patients must be flown to Australia.

There is no pharmaceutical manufacturing or independent drug regulatory authority in Nauru. The Republic of Nauru Pharmacy imports pharmaceuticals from Australia and the Netherlands and suffers from frequent shortages in supply and disruptions in distribution.

Transport

As Nauru is a single island comprising 21 sq km, the entire island is accessible. There is a sealed road of 19 km which encircles the island. Other roads running into the Buada district and phosphate mines are unpaved. A 5 km long, narrow gauge railway runs from the mines to Yaren but is used primarily for transporting phosphate. Nauru has one airport located in the south-west, just outside of Yaren. The airport is serviced by Our Airline, Nauru’s state-owned airline which provides weekly cargo and passenger flights to Guam, Fiji, and Brisbane and Melbourne in Australia. Access by boat or ship is difficult and therefore infrequent.