When COVID-19-related school closures first swept Samoa in 2020, a survey reported that fewer than 40% of students had accessed learning through radio, television, or paper-based and online lessons and resources.

One of the priorities for Samoa’s Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture (MESC) was to ensure that all students had access to and were aware of educational opportunities.

Access to learning for all during school closure

A GPE COVID-19 grant of US$750,000 for the period 2020–2022, with UNICEF as the grant agent, funded the procurement of 450 tablets, 150 laptops and 34 printers/copiers.

Distribution of these resources was based on the needs of schools in terms of infrastructure and resourcing levels. The resources not only benefited teachers and students during school closure but continued to enhance learning in classrooms after schools reopened.

Additionally, GPE funding helped procure equipment for the MESC information and communications technology (ICT) and multimedia studio, which developed online resources, television and radio programs, and public awareness programs during the COVID-19 school closures.

In 2022, when schools closed for a second time due to COVID-19, anecdotal reports from teachers’ evidence, such as online attendance, zoom classes and return of print worksheets, suggest that more students participated in distance learning compared to the first school closures in 2020.

Safe schools

The MESC developed guidelines for schools on operating procedures for school closure and reopening, supporting safe school reopening nationwide.

A survey of school hygiene facilities showed that 51% met or exceeded minimum national standards. GPE funding helped ensure more schools met the minimum standards for preventing COVID-19, providing 170 primary and pre-primary schools with water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) resources.

The MESC also prioritized mental health and psychosocial support. After school closure and reopening in 2020, teachers and school communities reported concerns about behaviors observed among students during distance learning, such as online bullying.

With GPE funding, the MESC developed a teacher training program on psychological first aid and a referral service for additional support when school-provided support was not sufficient to meet student needs.

Related social media content on positive coping, adaptation to online and blended learning modalities, supporting adolescents, signs of distress among children, and self-care tips for caregivers was also produced in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development. This content was launched on digital media platforms as well as disseminated through radio and television.

A more resilient education system

After school closure in 2020, student learning was assessed to evaluate learning loss at the time of regularly scheduled national assessments.

During school closure in 2022, the assessment was more immediate, either through Moodle – an online learning management system to deliver, monitor and assess learning, and provide feedback – or through a system of one-on-one sessions organized by schools.

Thanks to GPE funding, the MESC trained over 1,300 teachers to use the Moodle platform. Schools were provided with Moodle licenses to create customized school platforms.

Moodle is also used to facilitate teachers' continuous professional development. Teachers are building self-confidence and taking responsibility to effectively integrate technology into their practice.

Samoa now has a range of programs and infrastructure in place to respond to future learning disruption as well as systems in place to support the broader well-being of students.

Additionally, the distribution of technology to areas in need has helped narrow the digital divide by empowering schools and communities throughout the country to engage in and contribute to the digital transformation of education.