13 Apr 2007

American Samoa kindergarten teachers to train in New Zealand

10:25 am on 13 April 2007

American Samoa's Department of Education is looking to Australia and New Zealand for guidance on reading programmes for bilingual students.

The territory's Director of Education, Dr. Claire Poumele, says while millions in federal funds have been awarded for American Samoa she's concerned that very little comprehension is taking place under the American programmes being used.

She says the DOE has begun sending kindergarten teachers to New Zealand to learn about New Zealand reading programmes

"We sent a group of kindergarten teachers - ten of them - to New Zealand to observe the reading programme that they have there, because New Zealand has a dual language approach that is working very successfully with Samoan students in New Zealand."