Early childhood education will soon be part of compulsory education legislation in Samoa following last year's government nation-wide human capacity index survey.
Manunu school children. Photo: Tipi Autagavaia
The result of the survey has shown that only 30 percent of the children from three to five years of age are enrolled for early childhood education.
The ministry is now looking at increasing to over 50 percent enrolment in the next ten years.
The CEO of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture, Afamasaga Dr Karoline Fuata'i, said the challenge now is to increase awareness in the country using the media to encourage parents as well as village councils to promote the importance of taking children to enrol.
She said there are difficulties faced by some parents such as the location of the schools are too far or they are too busy with other family commitments.