Salary raise for school Inspectors proposed

By Deidre Fanene 14 July 2016, 12:00AM

The Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture (M.E.S.C) is looking to raise the salaries for School Inspectors as part of an overall effort to improve the quality of education in Samoa.

The plan was confirmed by the Chief Executive Officer of M.E.S.C, Dr. Karoline Afamasaga-Fuatai, who said the Ministry has already submitted a proposal to the Public Service Commission (P.S.C) for the raise.

The proposed increase hopes to motivate the Inspectors and offer them an extra incentive to work harder.

 “They will be responsible for checking up on the teachers whether they (teachers) are doing what they are supposed to do in the class rooms,” she said.

According to the C.E.O, the work is not easy and it comes with a lot of responsibilities. 

Dr. Karoline added that while the current salaries are okay, the proposed increase would be a better reflection of the load the inspectors carry.

Attempts to confirm the current salaries were not successful.

 “The Ministry will depend on them to monitor the teachers and the standards whether they are doing their work or not,” she said.

“However, we will also be depending on the Pulega a Ali’i ma Faipule to work together with the school inspectors to ensure that everything is working well.”

Asked about concerns raised by some parents that some school Inspectors are not doing their job and therefore a waste of time, Dr. Afamasaga-Fuatai said the Ministry would monitor their performance with assistance from the Village Counsils. 

 “We urge them to help out with this work because there are so many schools and we don’t have that much staff members from the Ministry to go out to the villages and check up on them,” she said.

“We need the help from the villages and the parents to let us know on what is happening within the schools.

“We cannot do this work alone and we ask for the help from the villages, the churches, the parents and everyone.”

As for the proposal to increase the salaries, Dr. Afamasaga-Fuatai said they are hoping to hear from the P.S.C soon.

By Deidre Fanene 14 July 2016, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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