Samoa's Public Service Commission chairman, Tu'uu Ieti Taule'alo, says most teachers in government schools need to upgrade their skills and teaching knowledge if they want higher wages.
This comes after teachers on Savaii island threatened strike action over unpaid salary increases and concerns about forced retirement at age 55.
Tu'uu says 88 percent of teachers in the country have a diploma in teaching but the Commission wants them to get full university degrees.
Our correspondent, Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia, says the Commission is not ruling out pay rises.
"But they want to rule out the old system where different ministries, in particular the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture would get a general pay rise for all the teachers, because the chairman was specific in saying that a general pay rise will benefit other teachers who are not doing their work well, who are not performing well."
