“GUAM needs an education buildup,” Guam Department of Education Superintendent Jon Fernandez stated during his presentation yesterday at the Guam Chamber of Commerce monthly membership meeting.

Fernandez spoke to Chamber members about putting in the same sense of urgency the business community placed over the military buildup – but this time, he urged them to advocate for the buildup of the island’s education system.

“Many of you have helped build this economy through your hard work and enterprise. You’ve built partnerships, organizations, and foundations that are now the lifeblood of this community. All of you are builders of this economy. All of you understand that it is an important part of our future,” Fernandez emphasized.

He said education is important, not just for the children, but also for the long-term economic viability of the island.

“I think that most of you understand and I think a lot of you are looking for a short-term economic opportunity to come up with ways to turn the situation around. And I would argue with you that in the long term, we also need to refocus on our public education system – and the kids who go through that system – to ensure that they are part of this prosperity that we see in the future,” Fernandez said.

During his presentation, the GDOE superintendent cited his experience working in Washington D.C. as the reason that propelled him to focus on education and public education reform. Fernandez said while working in the nation’s capital, he worked closely with the business community, including the CEOs and heads of companies, civic groups and associations.

“I have CEOs from companies coming in and saying ‘What I care about is finding ways to turn these young kids who live here into productive citizens so they can enter the workforce.’ That left a mark on me,” Fernandez said.

System of excellence

Localizing his experience, Fernandez described going into a system that was fragile and unstable – an education department that has seen 21 superintendents in 21 years and shifts in governance, from an appointed board to an elected board.

These are not indicative of an organization headed in one direction, much less the right direction, Fernandez said.

He also stressed the importance of establishing an educational system aimed at excellence, going on to college, and building careers in order to produce graduates with higher skills and who can be entrepreneurs and leaders of tomorrow.

According to recent SAT 10 results for 12th-graders, only 12 percent of graduates are proficient in reading, 6 percent in language, and 1 percent in math.

“In this global economy, in this rapid acceleration of the global economy, we can’t afford to fall far behind, we have to catch up. We have to turn the school system around,” Fernandez said.

Finally, Fernandez made an appeal to the business community: “I need your help to advocate for change and champion for progress around the issue of the public education system. I need your help for fighting for the future of our children. Not just for their future, but for our future as well.”