The Samoa Qualifications Authority has signed an agreement with Pesega College and the Vaiola TVET Institute to improve academic standards at the two educational institutions.

S.Q.A. Chief Executive Officer, Letuimanu'asina Dr. Emma Kruse Vaai, signed the agreement with Sauimalae Chu Ling, who is the Chairwoman and Trustee for the Church of Latter-day Saints (Samoa) Trust and represented both Pesega College and Vaiola TVET Institute.

The agreement was signed at the S.Q.A conference room, TATTE Building and will ensure the three organisations collaborate to ensure they meet the expectations of their stakeholders, while implementing relevant strategies in the Post School Education and Training (P.S.E.T) strategic plan 2016-2020 and the education sector plan 2013-2018..

Letuimanu'asina said the purpose of such an agreement is for the educational institutions to reach high level standards in education through both the teachers and students.

"We now have professional standards for TVET trainers and those professional standards have to be met by all the trainers of TVET providers and TVET is Technical Vocation, Education and Training like Poly-techs so we work together with the providers from LDS, Vaiola and Pesega and part of our work is to work together with these institutions to ensure that their teachers are well qualified and able to deliver," she said.

To qualify herself, she said "well qualified" meant that schools can also develop programs that also meet the requirements of accreditation through the S.Q.A. This can be done through the development of programs are considered useful and relevant to the industry and for the overall development of the students. 

Tuasivi Elisara, who is the Pesega College vice president, said the agreement means Pesega College and Vaiola TVET Institute have been recognized by S.Q.A. which means that their graduates will be certified by the authority and they will be recognised both locally and abroad.

"There is also an agreement in here that means we can work with S.Q.A like support fund, we can apply for the support fund for the professional development of our teachers and other things S.Q.A. can help us with," he added.

"Even the national records of achievements, we've also agreed that S.Q.A. can access their records so they can also be recognised for the job they're doing while working with us."

Letuimanu'asina acknowledged the ongoing support of the Church of Latter-day Saints, and indicated this is not their first time to work with the authority in terms of improving the level of education for the students in Samoa.