16 Oct 2019

Health, education priorities for Nauru's new Govt

10:10 am on 16 October 2019

Nauru's new president says reforming the health and education systems are his government's highest priorities.

Lionel Aingimea

Lionel Aingimea Photo: Nauru Government

Lionel Aingimea, who became president in August, said far too many Nauruans had been left behind since the economic collapse and years of stagnation.

Teacher retention was a challenge, he said, and student truancy had reached alarming levels.

There were also problems with job opportunities for Nauruans.

As to healthcare, Mr Aingimea said too many people were dying from non-communicable diseases (NCDs), with Nauru having one of the highest death rates by NCDs in the world.