29 Jan 2005

Samoa says migration to NZ means shortage of teachers

9:29 am on 29 January 2005

The chief executive of Samoa's education department says public schools face a shortage of teachers in the new school year.

Tautapilimai Levaopolo Esera says this is because many have gained jobs as bus drivers and prison wardens in New Zealand under the quota system.

Tautapilimai told Samoa Broadcasting Corporation television that this year the department was going to 'start off short'.

However he said the ministry had a number of applications from former teachers now wishing to return to the profession.

Under a quota system, 1,100 Samoans may migrate to New Zealand a year, provided they have a job to go to.

Last year, New Zealand's Corrections Department and a transport company launched a recruitment drive in Samoa boosted by advertisements in local media.