Micronesian Counselor, Issue 79

Hezel, Francis X. (2009-11-30). Micronesian Counselor, Issue 79. Micronesian Counselor (Report). Kolonia, Pohnpei: Micronesian Seminar. pp. 1–10.

• Has attachment: File:WTKSILMF.pdf

Abstract: The lead article, Playing the Numbers Game, by Francis X. Hezel, S.J., examines the importance of accurate data for guiding policy in Micronesia. It contrasts traditional ways of describing quantities with the modern need for precise measurement in order to manage health and education programs. The essay highlights the growing burden of non-communicable diseases, the gaps in reliable health statistics, and the risks of poor data collection.

Additional content discusses teacher absenteeism and textbook shortages in Chuuk and Pohnpei, the reliability of test scores in Kosrae, and data collection systems in Yap and the Marshall Islands. The issue emphasizes how flawed or hidden numbers undermine accountability, and calls for consistent reporting to improve services. A sidebar piece, Dreaded Flu, dramatizes the value of vaccination through a story of an island outbreak and successful immunization