A lawmaker in American Samoa says merging some schools could be a solution to the territory's shortage of teachers.
Recent budget hearings have concluded the public education system continues to be short of teachers despite volunteers from the United States non-government organisation WorldTeach.
A member of the House of Representatives Toeaina Faufano Autele says the territory cannot afford to rely soley on volunteers from WorldTeach because there is no certainty how long their services will last.
He says the local government must take more responsibility and suggests merging schools as one option.
"Maybe we can consolidate several schools that can be reasonably be consolidated you know, in terms of proximity to the schools so they won't inconvenience the parents. That's about one way of doing it."
Toeaina Faufano Autele says another issue is there are teachers who are being promoted to higher positions without receiving pay rises and says this needs to be addressed.
