With a month to go before the start of classes in public schools in the Northern Marianas, the Commonwealth Public School System has only filled 11 of the 30 teacher vacancies due to a slew of resignations.
Because of this, large class sizes are expected in many public schools following admission of education officials that no additional teaching staff will be added to its workforce this new school year.
The school system had a little over 400 teachers last school year and Education Commissioner Rita Sablan pointed out that the 30 vacant posts are just "replacement positions" for those who exited the system during summer.
She says no more beyond this number can be hired due to budget constraints.
