Micronesia

The Ohwa Christian College is a secondary level high school in Micronesia. Its academic year begins each August and is divided into quarters of approximately nine weeks each of instruction. The students' progress is tracked, in part, through standardized tests in areas of English and Math. The enrollment is approximately 100 students, and the staff consists of six teachers and seven support personnel. Currently, Global Ministries missionaries Karl and Janis Whiteman are assigned to serve Ohwa Christian College Ë Janis as a high school teacher and Karl in the administration of the school. Karl also serves in other assignments with churches in Micronesia and the Marshall Islands.

One important component of education at the Ohwa Christian College is an active spiritual life in the school community. There are worship services offered two times each day and students and their families participate in programs of family devotions and go on retreats sponsored by the school.

Students participate in production projects at the school; activities teaching them skills in agriculture and livestock-raising. In addition, the students' labor in these projects strengthens them, and the proceeds from these activities are used as a source of income for the school. Agriculture projects include cultivating such crops as breadfruit, bananas, and papayas. They also produce the plants that become feed for the pigs and chickens the students raise. Since 1997, Global Ministries has encouraged this aspect of the school's work through specific funding, over and above the block grant provided each year for the school in general.

One of the greatest challenges faced by the Ohwa Christian College is the attrition of its students. Financial needs force students to drop out or transfer to a different school of a lower quality of education and community life. Ohwa Christian College wishes to reinforce its scholarship fund available for student scholarships, to allow students in need to finish their high school education.