samoa

Samoa (population: 197,097 in 2019) has a primary net enrolment rate of 94.4% (2018)¹ and a secondary school completion rate of 85.5% (2016)¹. The youth unemployment rates (15-24 years old) is 14.1 % (2015)². The principal tertiary institution within the country is the National University of Samoa (NUS), which offers a range of courses, including teacher education and technical certificates. Samoa is a member of the regional University of the South Pacific (USP), which supports public efforts to increase access to affordable and relevant tertiary educational services within the region.  

Internet connectivity is available to 34% (2017)³ of the population, and mobile-cellular subscriptions are at 64 per 100 people (2017)³. There is infrastructure available for distance and technology-enabled learning and for expanding access to education and training in Samoa. The Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture’s National Information and Communications Technology in Education Policy 2018–2023 aims to establish appropriate ICT literacy skills among all students, teachers and ministry staff; support teaching and learning for all subjects of the curriculum; enhance administrative capacities; and improve communication channels between the ministry, schools and all stakeholders. For more information, read COL Country Report: Samoa 2015-2021. 

1. UNESCO Institute for Statistics Data Centre, retrieved in June 2021
2. ILO. 2017. Improving Labour Market Outcomes in the Pacific: Policy Challenges and Priorities, pp. 40
3. International Telecommunication Union (ITU) ICT Eye Country profile, retrieved in March 2020