The Director of Education in American Samoa says children are being hurt by a continuing teacher shortage.
Vaitinasa Dr Salu Hunkin-Finau says despite a recruitment drive in neigbouring Samoa netting nine teachers, the territory is about 25 teachers short.
Vaitinasa says her department has asked for volunteers with an educational background to help fill the gaps.
She says it is not ideal.
"There's no stability in the classroom and then if you have people that are not qualified in terms of education pedagogy and the content area we're basically providing almost like a baby-sitting situation. We're not providing the quality of instruction that we would like."
Vaitinasa says for the shortage to be resolved long term she hopes the college in the territory becomes a university to help provide a pool of fully qualified teachers.
