By a vote of 17-1, the House of Representatives approved the governor’s nominee for Director of Education, Dr. Ruth Matagi-Tofiga.
The secret ballot took place after a 1 ½ hour confirmation hearing for the veteran educator, before the House Education Committee, chaired by Rep. Vaetasi Tuumolimoli Moliga.
Dr. Matagi Tofiga who appeared regularly before the Fono during her tenure as Director of Marine and Wildlife Resources confidently and with ease answered questions from lawmakers.
The topics included her plans for the dual language instruction program, factors contributing to why test scores for high school graduates have not improved, funding for sports programs, her short and long terms goals for the public school system and why credentialed and experienced educators end up at a desk job at the central office instead of in the classroom.
The dual language program which was initiated by former DOE Director Vaitinasa Dr. Salu Hunkin Finau, has been piloted in a few elementary schools and increases the use of Samoan for teaching.
Dr. Matagi said the program has only been tried for 2 years and it’s necessary to do an assessment of the results.
Regarding the poor test results for graduates she said several factors need to be reviewed, and these include the student, the teacher and the test itself.
She said the tests are geared for mainland students, and mentioned a locally designed test which may be more appropriate to assess academic achievement levels of students.
Dr. Matagi Tofiga didn’t dispute that student achievement has consistently dropped over the last several years and something needs to be done.
She stressed that it takes everyone working together and told lawmakers that in the few weeks since returning to DOE, she’s emphasized team work instead of people working in isolation.
The director also said education funding needs to be increased…revealing that the Consolidated Grant, which makes up 90% of DOEs budget had dropped.
Two freshmen lawmakers, who were both high school principals Fagaoatua Dorian Salave’a and Sataua Dr. Mataese Samuelu did not get answers to some of their questions.
Dr. Samuelu had a question about reclassification of teacher salaries and Rep. Fatulegaee Mauga advised the chairman that this was a subject that the director could answer after she was confirmed.
Before the chairman ruled, Dr. Samuelu yielded his time, but not after letting Rep. Mauga know he had the floor and was asking a pertinent question to the director nominee.
Fagaoatua asked what Dr. Matagi Tofiga thought of connecting teacher salaries to the test scores of their students.
But chairman Vaetasi ruled that this was a question that the nominee could answer if she’s brought back to the House after she’s spent time in the department.
House Speaker Savali Talavou Ale told the nominee she was the third woman with a doctorate to head the Department of Education, and from his perspective it seemed like student achievement has taken a dive in the time that women have been at the helm.
Previously men were directors of education, with the exception of one female Director, a reference to Dr. Mere Betham.
The Speaker seemed surprised to hear about DOE’s need for increased funding saying that there has never been a time when the Fono said no to funding requests from DOE.
Well wishers who watched the confirmation hearing for Dr Matagi Tofiga from the House gallery included Rev. Iasepi Ulu and Mrs Ulu of the Fagatogo CCCAS which the nominee is an active member of, deputy director of DOE Faauifono Vaitautolu, and several managers and her husband and son.
The Senate will hold a confirmation hearing for the DOE director nominee next Monday.
