Samoa: Teaching the teachers

Samoa / 29 de junio de 2016 / Por: Mathias Huckert / Fuente: http://www.samoaobserver.ws/

When it comes to the process of learning, every idea can be helpful. That is why Samoa’s Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture has launched a workshop in cooperation with Samoa Peace Corps.

The two-day training will provide new ideas, suggestions and perceptions in the areas of literacy and numeracy and science for teachers all around the island of Upolu.

“We’ve looked in targeting teachers who teach the years one, two and three in particular,” said Faatamali’i Jenny Lauano, A.C.E.O of the Teacher Development Division

According to Mrs. Lauano, the revision of teaching methods during this period of the student’s schooling especially has to be valued.

“We’ve noticed that if students come up to the following years like year four or five and six, it is just too late to address their literacy needs. That is why we decided to provide additional training for our early primary teachers, in which they will learn about other methods or ideas”.

These new methods and ideas include for instance the presentation of guided reading programs or activities which can be used by the teachers to ensure about their student’s constant attention during lessons.

“We are lucky to get support in these new teaching methods by some Peace Corps volunteers, which are great at that.”

After some general information on the newly established teaching methods, the groups of primary teachers were split, taking part in an actual practical demonstration of what they had been presented with so far.

At the hotel’s exterior area, the teachers were introduced to new ways of teaching in four different working stations, each led by one of the Peace Corps volunteers.

“Our volunteers come from both islands, Savai’i and Upolu to share their knowledge with the participants here”, said Dina Uisitini, Programme Manager of the Peace Corps in Samoa.

“The work stations the teachers are passing through include different areas in the field of literacy, such as writing activities, word work, activities with the alphabet or guided reading”.

The workshop, which will continue with participating teachers from the other side of the island on Wednesday and Thursday, will also take place on the island of Savai’i as well in the next week, to support the local primary teachers in this part of the country.

“We obviously can’t work miracles overnight, but if we start supporting early primary years with events like this workshop here, we will soon see a positive difference in the way our students gain the ability to read and write during the next years to come.”