University of the South Pacific - Marshall Islands
2012 Graduation Address, June 28, 2012
H.E. Christopher J. Loeak
President, Republic of the Marshall Islands
English version

Traditional Leaders of the Marshall Islands, Iroij Kotak Loeak &
members of the Council of Iroij;
Sir Frank Kabui, Governor General of the Solomon Islands and
Chancellor of the University of the South Pacific;
Cabinet Members, Speaker Donald Capelle, Vice Speaker
Tomaki Juda and members of the Nitijela;
Nitijela Chaplain Reverend Enja Enos;
Distinguished members of the Diplomatic Corps ;
Professor Rajesh Chandra, President and Vice-Chancellor of the
University of the South Pacific;
Chief Justice Carl Ingram and members of the Judiciary;
Chief Secretary and members of the Public Service;
members of the local governments and private sector;
Dr. Irene Taafaki, faculty and staff of the USP Majuro Campus;
Family and friends of the graduands;
And those of you who have come to witness this special event
and of course, graduates.

Chancellor & Governor General Sir Frank Kabui, Lady Grace
Kabui, Vice Chancellor Professor Rajesh Chandra, USP Council
Secretary Lily Vesikula, USP Student Association Secretary
General Akmal Ali. The government and the people of the
Republic of the Marshall Islands welcome you to our country.
As you can see, there is much excitement in the air. Our first to
have the twin honors of having you, Chancellor and Vice
Chancellor - here with us.

I begin by thanking the University of the South Pacific for its
leadership in higher education in the region. Managing the
needs of 14 campuses in 12 island states of differing cultures
and resources, and offering back in return quality education, is
a feat that never ceases to astonish many of us. Our most
sincere gratitude and appreciation.

I feel emboldened therefore, to say at this juncture that USP
has been and continues to be a substantial force behind the
shaping and molding of the minds of our young people. We
have here, in this assemblage, and in the various branches of
our government, more than ample evidence. Young people
with well-trained minds, competent, forward looking, and
eager to give all that they have acquired to serve their country.
Today, we have the first batch of MBA graduands, some master
in education and science, numerous postgraduate diplomas
and certificates and bachelors of law.

The Marshall Islands has been very fortunate to be a part of
this dynamic revolution of education and change.
Our late President & Iroijlaplap Amata Kabua foresaw in 1991
the necessity of exploiting the possibility of joining the USP
community, commencing with the establishment of a modest
USP Center. By 1995, the RMI-USP Joint Program for Higher
Education was formed, specifically designed to prepare our
students to enter and compete in higher tertiary education. I
should know for I was the Minister of Education then. From
those modest beginnings, scores of young men and women
went out into universities and colleges of the region,
participating actively in the race for the attainment of
excellence.

Many have returned to serve our community. We have here
professionally trained human resources, fully qualified and
capable of contributing to the development and the process of
building our nation. A trend has been set for future
generations to follow.

It made sense then and it makes sense now that we should
forge educational ties with our colleagues from the region.
That God put us here in the first place, is an undeniable fact of
our own geography and origin. We are among island states
and people who have so much in common with ourselves,
sharing common values and goals, more than any other
cultural group.

In my first public statement as President, I made clear my
determination to make education as the spearhead of this
administration. I believe then as I do now in the absolute
condition that a nation that does not take care of the education
of its people is doomed. That the deadliest of all sins is a
government that ignores the talents latent within the minds of
the nation’s young generation. This administration is
committed to the cause of education. We will leave no stone
unturned, undeterred by the numerous restraints and
seemingly difficult obstacles.

I believe, however, that true education is more than the sum
total of schooling. As Einstein said, “education is what remains
when one has forgotten everything one learned in school. It is
our ability to apply what we have learned for the common
good.”

And so the moment of trial for you, graduands, is at hand. To
you, we ask these questions: “What difference will your well-
earned degrees, diplomas and certificates, make towards your
outlook in life; your approach towards your duties in the
workplace? What new values and standards will be added to
your performance? How will your new knowledge empower
you and others to improve conditions, to affect change in our
country?

My hope is that you will use your new skills and knowledge to
become a force of leadership and change. Years in public life
has led me to conclude that we need people who can, by sheer
force of volition and personality, transform seemingly static
conditions into new situations, stirring with life. We need
teachers who can positively make changes in our schools,
changing unproductive schools into highly performing ones.
We need you, with your new intellectual powers and skills; to
work with your colleagues at work, help inspire them to see
things in a different way, to learn to work with our
communities and to build an enduring spirit of constructive
participation…Never to be satisfied with mediocrity. We need
MBAs who not only can do magic with principles of
management and administration, but who can understand that
statistics are no substitute for good judgment. We need you to
work with your corporate partners and transform existing
levels of efficiency to new scales of achievement.

How can we expect different and better results if we simply
keep doing the same things we are accustomed to? We must
make a difference, and the difference must be in the task of
uplifting our society. You have a responsibility. We will rely
on you to help us broaden, as far as possible, our vision of what
is our potential.

Times are changing, and I must state here as a fact, that times
are also changing in the landscape of education in the Marshall
Islands. It is gratifying for me to see the Minister of Education,
Dr. Hilda Heine, a restless mover in the field, sparing no effort
in collaboration with USP, spearheading and fast tracking
intensive training of teachers in the sciences, mathematics and
the English language. An initiative precisely aimed at
supporting focused education on early childhood teachers to
open the eyes of our children to the excitement of learning.
The positive effect this will have on the quality of teaching and
education in the country can be well imagined.

It is now 20 years since the RMI became a member state of the
USP community, and 17 years since formation of the RMI-USP
Foundation Program. That is, 17 years since the birth of the
concept of the USP northern regional campus was first
categorically stated in the first vision statement between USP
and late President & Iroijlaplap Amata Kabua. This same vision
statement continued during Iroijlaplap Imata Kabua’s
Presidency.

Some 8 or 9 years ago, President Kessai Note’s administration
secured a long-term land lease agreement with landowners to
set aside a holding for the establishment of the Marshall
Islands USP campus. In 2008, President Litokwa Tomeing,
reaffirmed the placement of the RMI-USP campus in its funding
priority list and vigorously pursued opportunities for funding
support. President & Iroijlaplap Jurelang Zedkaia followed and
reinforced that endorsement.

Nowhere in the entire administration of any of our former
Presidents was there a dim in their support for the full
realization of the vision for the RMI-USP campus.
The time has now come for concrete commitment in clear and
specific terms. This administration has pledged to set aside
$500,000.00 in the next budget as seed money to launch a
concerted effort to establish the campus. We will begin to
delineate a clear timetable that outlines the progressive stages
of implementation. We will explore every possible venue,
including our own, by which support may be obtained.

That parents and students have been making incessant pleas
for a campus for so long, is understandable. Years of delays
have deprived their children from getting maximum learning
benefits which proper facilities can offer: such as, science and
language laboratories, adequate classroom space, study halls,
libraries and resource facilities, adequate setting and
equipment for the rigorous pursuit of academic studies. To a
very substantial extent, these define students’ state of
preparedness for tertiary education. They define their choice
of career. In short, they define in due course the quality of
their eventual contribution to our nation. And this, to me is the
bottom-line, the ultimate issue that underlies our commitment
to the construction of the campus. For those who see this as
costly, we must look deeper into the alternative: the
catastrophic cost of ignorance.

I now would like to direct my last comments in honor of a
small band of people working at the USP campus and the RMI-
USP Foundation Program. For well close to 2 decades, they
dedicated their time and skills to working with our youth and
adults alike. They work with our students, advising, counseling
and guiding them. They monitor their progress wherever they
may study in other regional institutions. We are talking about
just a small group of educators, managing always on a
shoestring budget every year. Yet, they turn out highly
successful products, like we have here today. But they do not
stop there despite the limitations imposed upon them. They
undertake research work relevant to the needs of the country
and the region, and publish them. They enter into
collaborations with local artists and weavers and others in the
region in an attempt to revive part of our cultural heritage.
The sheer creative energy of this small band of highly
motivated and dedicated people, has made it possible for
hundreds of Marshallese young people to obtain quality
education, and to serve our nation. This is, undeniably, a major
contribution to the nation’s policy on human resources
development. I want to thank most sincerely, Dr. Irene Taafaki
and her staff at the USP Marshall Islands Campus and the
dedicated teachers of the RMI-USP Foundation Program under
the leadership of Ms. Tapukitea Rokolekutu, for your most
admirable service.

Lastly, it would be inexcusable of me if I failed to express on
this occasion, the government’s appreciation and gratitude to
our donors, who over the years, have given most generously in
support of USP programs and projects. Australia’s ever-ready
and consistent responsiveness in providing support is deeply
appreciated. Similarly, annual contribution from the Republic
of China (Taiwan) is warmly acknowledged. Project support
by the Japanese government, and special assistance by the US
government through the Ministry of Education for early
childhood teacher training are likewise acknowledged with
grateful thanks.

Chancellor & Vice Chancellor, our graduands are truly
privileged and honored by your presence here today…thank
you. May the rest of your stay in Majuro be an enjoyable one.
My sincere congratulations once again, to all the graduands
and their families. May you have a very successful future.

Thank you, and God bless you

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