Early Childhood Education

That follows a nation-wide survey last year that found only 30 percent of children from three to five years of age in Samoa are enrolled in ECE.

RNZ reports the ministry plans to increase that figure to more than 50 percent in the next 10 years by gradually introducing compulsory ECE.

The chief executive of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture, Karoline Afamasaga Fuata'i, said the benefits would be far-ranging.

The result of the survey has shown that only 30 percent of the children from three to five years of age are enrolled for early childhood education.

RNZ reports the ministry is now looking at increasing to over 50 percent enrolment in the next ten years.

The CEO of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture, Afamasaga Dr Karoline Fuata'i, said the challenge now is to increase awareness in the country using the media to encourage parents as well as village councils to promote the importance of taking children to enrol.

All public schools in Tutuila, Aunu'u and the Manu'a Islands, from Early Childhood Education (ECE) to the high school level, kicked off the first day of the 2015-2016 school year Thursday morning.  

Traffic stalled in some areas as parents were busy shuffling the little ones to class.  

Most of the public schools which were cited by the Department of Health during an inspection earlier this month for unsanitary conditions were able to open their doors yesterday.