Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
Plans are in the pipeline to offer a diploma in education programme at the National University of Samoa to try and address the teacher shortage.
The topic of teacher shortages was raised by members of Parliament during this week's supplementary budget debate.
Minister of Education Seu'ula Ioane Tua'au has admitted there is a chronic shortage of teachers.
At this week's sitting, Seu'ula revealed the plans, saying discussions between the Ministry and the Public Service Commission had been fruitful.
The Samoa Observer reports the minister said there is also ongoing training offered at the university.
Calls to offer more attractive packages for teachers are also being considered.
Samoa had 423 early childhood education, 1427 primary, and 1035 secondary school teachers in 2019, according to the education ministry's [2019 https://www.mesc.gov.ws/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/2019-Statistical-Digest_FINAL_31st-Jan-2020.pdfEudcation Statistical Digest].