About Our Education System

Education in Nauru is compulsory for children between the ages of 5 and 16. There are eleven schools in Nauru, including three primary schools and two secondary schools (Nauru College and Nauru Secondary School). There is an Able/Disabled Centre for children with special needs.Education at these schools is free. In 2021, the New Zealand and Australian Departments of Foreign Affairs and Trade reported that 3,168 children were enrolled at Nauru's schools. The Minister for Education is the Hon. Charmaine Scotty, MP. Nauru College has an international Department catering to students residing overseas who have citizenship or  permanent residency. They may complete courses online and due to Covid 19 there are no requirements to return to Nauru for graduation.

The Nauru Campus of the University of the South Pacific (USP) is located in Nauru Learning Village Yaren District since 2018, and was previously in Aiwo District. USP began teaching remote courses in the 1970s. A local campus was established in 1987. Courses of study focus on the fields of education and business. The campus also serves the broader community through a Continuing education programme. The late Hon. President Bernard Dowiyogo, founded the Nauru Institute of Media and Communications which operated between 1984 and 1996 but due to financial difficulties was closed in 1997 and then went virtual from 2000 onwards.

Education in Nauru was first formalized by the work of Protestant missionaries in the early twentieth century. The first schools were established by missionary Rev. Philip Delaporte, teaching children literacy in the Nauru language. In 1923, the joint administration of the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand made education compulsory and established a curriculum based in the English language.Australia's AusAID funded an $11 million refurbishment of Nauru Secondary School beginning in late 2007. The project to assist in improving educational performance in Nauru was completed in 2010. Part of the project focused on enhancing Nauruan construction capacity. Due to the increased diaspora of Nauru citizens and residents in New Zealand and Australia, Nauru increased it’s online education courses between 2000 and 2020, reviving the Institute of Media and Communication as a virtual institute.