Faculty assists education in Samoa
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The Research Unit in Pacific and International Education at the School of Critical Studies in Education is hosting an eight-member team of researchers from the Samoa Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture for two weeks to work with them on an international project that aims to improve student achievement and teacher effectiveness.
The Samoan research team has developed a research and evaluation programme under a six-year Education Sector Programme funded jointly by the Government of Samoa, NZAid, AusAid and the Asia Development Bank. The overall goal of the project is to establish a more equitable and effective education system in Samoa that enhances learning outcomes for young people.
According to the Faculty of Education’s Dr Eve Coxon, the visit has several objectives.
“These are to provide training in qualitative and quantitative research analysis, to analyse data collected for the research studies underway, and to develop research knowledge and networks through exposure to various research programmes at the faculty,” says Dr Coxon.
Some of the data gathered so far investigates teacher motivation and the role of professional support for teachers in Samoa. Also analysed will be data into student transitions from year 8 to high school and also from year 12 into year 13 and beyond.
The visit began with a powhiri at Tutahi Tonu Marae, followed by an ‘Ava' welcome ceremony. Training in the use of research analysis software packages SPSS and NVIVO is being provided through the Centre for Academic Development. Two doctoral students, Ritesh Shah and Hilary Tolley, are facilitating data analysis sessions. During their time at the faculty, the team will also participate in presentations from the Starpath Project, the Visible Learning Lab and the Woolf Fisher Research Centre.
Marie Bentin-Toalepaialii, Assistant Chief Executive Officer and head of the Policy, Planning and Research Division heads the team from the Samoa Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture. The visit was organised through Dr Eve Coxon, who is contracted as the Education Research and Evaluation specialist and charged with strengthening the Ministry’s capacity in research, evaluation, policy analysis and planning. Dr Coxon’s role continues a long-standing interest in Samoan education. She was policy advisor to Samoa in the mid-1990s and more recently she has worked there as director of two large secondary education projects – one in curriculum reform and the other in teacher development.
