Primary school teachers from around Samoa participated in Phase 2 of cluster trainings that focused on literacy and numeracy using the Moodle learning platform.

The training was spearheaded by the Ministry of Education Sports and Culture (M.E.S.C.).

This was highlighted in a media release issued by the Ministry.

According to the release, Phase 2 of the cluster training has already been rolled out starting from Monday 2 November for both Upolu and Savai'i primary school teachers.

It also added that the training targeted areas in literacy, numeracy, TVET (Health & PE, Visual Arts) and also using the Moodle learning platform.

The objectives of Phase 2 was to provide additional support to teachers in the Tier 1 and Tier 2 primary schools or schools where students have consistently performed at the basic level of achievement.

These primary teachers attended the literacy, numeracy and TVET training.

The Ministry also relayed that this part of its strategy to address the effects of COVID-19 and other disasters that might affect education in Samoa.

The M.E.S.C. is ensuring that teachers are able to use the Moodle platform to access their professional development programmes as well as upload assignments and assessments.

In addition, and teachers are able to provide the same training in their schools so students will be able to access homework, notes and school work assignments from home. 

The cluster professional development programmes for teachers and principals will resume at the beginning of the 2021 school year. 

The Ministry emphasised in a statement that developments on teacher registration has been ongoing since the establishment of the Samoa Teachers Council (S.T.C.) in 2019.

The Council’s mandate under the Teachers Act 2016 is to regulate teachers’ registration. 

To date S.T.C. has confirmed a total of 1024 teachers qualify for full teacher registration. This number is inclusive of [Early Childhood Education] E.C.E. teachers as well as primary and secondary teachers from all schools including government, mission and private.

Furthermore, it states that teachers’ applications for registration were rigorously assessed by the Teachers Council, which consists of 14 members representing E.C.E., private, government, the community and Head of Agencies including M.E.S.C., Samoa Qualification Authority and the National University of Samoa’s Faculty of Education Dean.

The criteria for both full teacher and temporary registration are regulated under the Teachers Act 2016, all of which are to be met by teachers.

Additionally, the registering and provision of teaching licenses for the first group of teachers is a milestone in the history of education in Samoa.

This effort will contribute greatly to improving teacher quality in our efforts to ensure improvements in students’ achievement across all levels of education. Teachers who do not meet the criteria for either full or temporary registration will not be able to teach in schools.

Plans to officially issue teachers license and teachers registration certificate is now going ahead with a scheduled plan for teachers to pay their fees. Letters to inform individual teachers on the status of their application are now being disbursed to schools.

The Teachers Council said it would like to congratulate all teachers who have been approved to be registered and licensed in this first round and urged them to take notice of the following process for the payment of the prescribed fee.