Samoa Education Minister says they are on the right track

Transcript

After attending the International Teaching Summit held in New Zealand, Samoa's Minister of Education believes their system is on the right track.

The global summit brought together representatives from the top 25 education performing countries in the world.

Hon Magele Mauiliu Magele was one of seven Pacific delegates invited to observe the Summit which has ended just as the Pacific Education Forum Meeting begins today.

Mr Magele told Indira Moala the Summit reaffirmed Samoa's current education plans in moving forward.

HON MAGELE MAUILIU MAGELE: This conference I've learned that different countries are doing it differently in terms of the speed at which changes are being made. But the thing that impressed me was the consultation process that goes into making sure that the community and the people accept change. So there is a very thorough consultation between government officials, the community, the parents and even the unions. So I think if we can do that back home it would really be a good thing and that everybody will embrace change.

INDIRA MOALA: What would you say are the greatest challenges that Samoa faces in terms of education?

MMM: It's the resources. We have made some very clear policy statement regarding moving forward and we have built new school buildings - because every village has its own school. So the challenge for us is to make sure that every school is well resourced at the primary level.

IM: The Samoa education department has now teamed up with M.I.T. (an institution from New Zealand) to help encourage unresponsive students to stay in school. How effective has this partnership been so far?

MMM: What we have seen from M.I.T. so far is very positive, in terms of addressing those students who are not academically able. And we provide another pathway for them and and we can get an appreciation of what they might want to do in the future. So we are moving forward with that - it will be starting next year.

IM: Has this international conference and being able to observe world leaders at this level, has it been exciting to have this as a foundational platform before you go on to the Pacific conference next week in the Cook Islands?

MMM: It certainly is. I mean, we are dealing here with...these are the big countries with very advanced education systems. And I would suspect the same thing would be discussed at the Pacific Island Ministers Meeting in Rarotonga. We're talking about the quality of education, the same thing that we've been talking about here. We'll be taking some of the things that we've learned from here, for example the qualitative teachers and the environment and those issues.