American Samoa's education director says high rates of attrition among teachers is creating an urgent need to fill vacancies, which could be putting school children at a disadvantage.
The Department of Education intends to have teachers from Samoa in local classrooms when the new school year begins following a recruitment drive there last month.
The director, Vaitinasa Dr Salu Hunkin Finau, says over 100 applications have been received for mainly mathematics, science, Samoan and trades teachers and the department is about to undertake final interviews.
Vaitinasa says the department hopes that by having longer-term two year contracts, the problem of high teacher turnover will be overcome.
"That forces us to pick just about anybody that is willing to come in and help the children which doesn't provide for always the best because it's such an urgency all the time."
Vaitinasa Dr Salu Hunkin Finau.
American Samoa is also assessing competency, with 500 local teachers sitting a test this weekend.