Pacific

Cyclone may force kids to repeat school year in FSM

15:47 pm on 1 May 2015

Many children in the cyclone affected states of the Federated States of Micronesia may have to repeat a grade in the next school year after missing almost two months of school since Maysak swept through the islands.

Damage caused by Typhoon Maysak in Ulithi, Yap, Federated States of Micronesia Photo: Brad Holland / FSM Office of Environment and Emergency Management

The Director of FSM's Emergency Management Office, Andrew Yatilman, says some private schools have resumed classes but most public schools remain closed.

Mr Yatilman says in the worst affected Unity islands, senior students are being moved off island to enable them to sit their graduation exams.

"They are closing down the High Schools and essentially moving the seniors to the main island Yap to try to have them finish up so they can graduate this month. And sophomores and juniors were left on the island to be sent back home and I guess to continue next year."

Mr Yatilman says for the most part, schools that have not resumed classes are those whose classrooms were completely flattened by cyclone Maysak and he says it could be a while before any of them can be rebuilt.