One of the main recommendations of the Task Force on the Future of Education in American Samoa is to make the Department of Education a semi autonomous agency.
The Task Force’s recommendations were presented at a meeting of the Mid West District of Education held yesterday evening at Tafuna High School.
Task Force members Dr. Salu Hunkin Finau a former Director of Education and Steve Watson, the Governor’s Chief Legal Counsel explained the recommendations to a group of more than 20 mainly teachers, principals and parents.
The Task Force on the Future of Education was established in January of last year and was given the task of reviewing the state of the public school system with the aim of improving the quality of education to produce graduates ready to continue to higher education, or to engage in a trade and more prepared to face life in general.
The task force is proposing that the DOE become a semi independent agency , overseen by a Board of Governors with 7 members.
Dr Finau Hunkin said the Board of Governors will select a Superintendent of Education who will report to the Board, and not to the governor.
The department will handle its own finances, hiring and procurement just like existing authorities such as ASPA, ASTCA, LBJ and the American Samoa Community College.
As for funding, the Task Force is proposing that 20% of annual local revenues, or $20 million which ever is greater will be allotted to fund the local share of DOE’s budget.
The balance is to come from federal grants as is the current practice.
Fees may also be charged for extra curricular activities.
The Task Force is also recommending that a five year planning process for education be made mandatory, dual language instruction be implemented, vocational education emphasized with tie ins to ASCC and other trade schools of higher education, inclusion of charter schools, home schooling, and education at the juvenile Detention Center, and that a substitute teacher system is implemented.
The Task Force is scheduling presentations with other school districts including Manu’a, as well as Parent Teacher Organizations over the next two weeks.
The plan is to submit the changes to the Fono in the next legislative session in July.
