Primary schools have shown a slight improvement in national examination results, offering hope for the Ministry of Education and Culture (M.E.C.), according to the Ministry's Chief Executive Officer A'eau Christopher Hazelman. 

While acknowledging that the increase in scores was not as significant as some might have hoped compared to last year, A'eau expressed his appreciation for the positive direction the results indicated.

"It may not be a huge leap compared to 2023, but we are thankful that there has been some improvement," A'eau said. "This is a positive outcome, and it shows that our efforts are starting to bear fruit."

Despite the encouraging trend, A'eau emphasised that certain challenges remain, particularly in Mathematics. He identified it as the subject where students continued to struggle the most, with poor performance reflected in their results and overall examination outcomes.

"Mathematics remains the weakest subject for students, and this is evident in the national exam results. It’s clear that we have a lot of work ahead of us to improve numeracy and literacy skills, starting from primary school," he explained.

In response to these challenges, A'eau highlighted that the Ministry will intensify its efforts in the coming year, focusing on collaborative strategies with educators across the country. He expressed confidence that by enhancing teaching methods and providing targeted support, students’ performance could continue to improve as they progress through their education.

With the drastic drop in college students' performances and results, A'eau said the slight improvements for primary school students provided hope for the ministry. 

A'eau is optimistic about the potential of current primary school students. 

"Our goal is to ensure that these students, as they move from primary school to college, continue to improve and build on their foundational knowledge," he said.

When asked about the role of Early Childhood Education (ECE) in advancing literacy and numeracy, A'eau acknowledged the importance of this early learning stage. 

He assured that the Ministry was continuously exploring ways to incorporate ECE more effectively into national education programs to ensure that all students, from the youngest learners to those in secondary school, are given the best opportunity to succeed.

"The role of Early Childhood Education is critical. We are always looking for ways to improve learning across all education centres in the country, ensuring that no part of the system is left behind," he stated.

With a continued focus on improvement, A'eau and the Ministry are hopeful that the upcoming years will see further advancements in Samoa's primary education system.