An M.P. from Sagaga District has called for the establishment of a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (T.V.E.T.) Centre in the area to tackle the alarming rate of student dropouts. 

Speaking in parliament on the Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2021/2022 this week, the M.P. for Sagaga No. 2, Maulolo Tavita Amosa revealed the ongoing issue faced by Sagaga College. 

He said the college houses students from the whole of Sagaga District from Sagaga No. 1 to Sagaga No. 4. 

According to his findings, Maulolo said over the past 5 years an estimated 80–85 per cent of students from Year 9 to Year 11 dropped out of school after the first three years in College. 

He then made reference to school results for those sitting Year 12 and Year 13 showed a concerning outcome of just 1 per cent or less of the students continuing tertiary education. 

“The question asked is where do the other 90 per cent [those that didn’t pass] go to,” said the M.P. for Sagaga No. 2. 

“The question asked by a parent is after attending school for those years [their child] can speak some basic English and knows a few mathematic, so can they work to help with the economy? 

“The question I ask is are the subjects taught in the Sagaga College align with the strengths of the students?”  

Maulolo cited reports from the Samoa Bureau Statistics recording 51 per cent of youths were unemployed in 2016. 

He then urged the Minister of Education to look into the issue and suggested that this is not the time the matter has been raised.

While he acknowledged that students who are academically affluent must move on and up, he was more concern about the other fraction who are left out of the equation. 

Maulolo pointed out that his concern is that the current school system neglects the 85 per cent of dropouts who will not be able to enrol in T.V.E.T. school such as Don Bosco and Laumua o Punaoa.  

The M.P. then turned to the Samoa Qualification Authority (S.Q.A.) suggesting if this is not an area where they can assist with in terms of post school education and training. 

He said most youths have children at a young age and find it difficult to obtain work without qualifications, but they have the skill set for work such as plumbing and laying bricks. 

He added that perhaps a T.V.E.T. Centre in his district as trial can provide for formal learning and obtain qualifications to include them in assisting with the economy. 

According to the Government-sanctioned report “Samoa’s Second Voluntary National Review”, it is a challenge keeping students in class as confirmed by declining primary school completion rates and secondary schools transition rates.

The secondary school completion rate declined between 2016–2018 for Year 12 (from 62.65 per cent to 54.1 per cent) and Year 13 (from 71.4 per cent to 35.95 per cent) for both male and female students.

The low completion rate for Year 13 students, which was a decline from 44.4 per cent in 2016 to 35.95 per cent in 2018 is a concern, the report emphasised. It also noted the completion rate among females was higher for both Year 12 and Year 13 compared to males.

The report also looked at the transition rate from Year 13 to post-secondary education and training (P.S.E.T.), which it found increased from 68 per cent in 2015 to 69 per cent in 2017 and 2018.

And also discovered a high dropout rate for students in Years 11 to 13 from 20 to 24 per cent (Year 11) and 24 to 30 per cent (Year 13) between 2015 and 2019. However, net enrolment for secondary education increased 5 per cent between 2016 (68 per cent) and 2018 (73 per cent).

Nevertheless, the high level of sustained Government investment in education has resulted in overall positive results in access to education, stated the report, especially in the primary and secondary school levels with an average of 102 per cent rate in primary level and around 72 per cent for secondary level in 2017 and 2018.

And while the report acknowledged that there are similar enrolment rates for girls and boys in primary school, it noted a 12 per cent difference in secondary school with a higher number of girls.

About 80 per cent of children complete primary school in Samoa and the rate has remained consistent between 2012 and 2016, although there was a slight decrease from 80.2 per cent in 2016 to 78.4 per cent in 2018.

In another report titled “Samoa Youth Monograph 2020” issued through the Samoa Bureau of Statistics and was based on analyses data collected in the 2016 Samoan Population and Housing Census, also emphasised that despite progress made by Samoa in increasing primary school completion rates and attaining gender parity, significant challenges remain in increasing secondary completion rate, where there is a high drop-out rate.

“Significant disparities also remain in completion rates for males and females, and for youth with disabilities.

“Furthermore, geographical inequities exist with the Savai’i region showing comparatively lower completion rates than the national average.

“The percentage of students progressing from primary to secondary school declined from 93.7 per cent in 2014 to 86.5 per cent in 2018.”

The report also stated that school dropout rates are of concern in Samoa with 32.2 per cent of males dropping out by Year 13 with a corresponding figure of 27.9 per cent for females.

The completion rate for secondary school has also declined overall by 10 per cent between 2016 and 2017.