Teacher's council established

A body overlooking the work of teachers will soon be established after the Teachers Bill 2015 was passed in Parliament last week.

According to the Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, the establishment of the Council will bring the teachers in line with other professions such as dentists, accountants and engineers.

The body will be known as the Samoa Teachers’ Council.

It will be comprised of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture’s Chief Executive Officer, the Samoa Qualification Authority C.E.O, the Dean of Education at the National University of Samoa and four teachers nominated by the Sosaiete Faiaoga Samoa Incorporated (or the successor body).

Others on the council are two teachers from the mission schools, two representatives from private schools and one teacher from an early childhood centre.

Chairman of the Education, Science, Communication and Information Technology Committee, Lenatai Victor Tamapua, tabled their findings into the Teachers Bill 2015 on Tuesday.

Inside Parliament, Tautua Whip Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi questioned the work load carried by the members of the council.

“I look at their functions and work [and] I think they need to be fulltime, by looking at the workload,” suggested Leala.

“Can the Chairman explain whether the staff will be permanent or temporary, because from what I see it seems they [will] be doing a lot of management work?”

Tautua Leader Palusalue Fa’apo II followed after. Palusalue asked how the Council’s work is different from that of the Public Service Commission.

“P.S.C. is responsible for teachers’ pay but looking at the Council’s function, they are also dealing with teachers’ pay,” said the Chairman. “Can you explain who is really responsible and P.S.C.’s role in this case?”

In response, committee Chairman Lenatai Victor Tamapua explained it was clear in the legislation that the employment area is not affected in the bill.

It was the same with salaries, with the Ministry dealing with that, he said.

“About the council and their work, they do assessments and meet about three to four times a year.

“ The y al so deal wi th registration and whether to approve or reject the applications.”

Prime Minister cut in to elaborate on the importance of having the Council.

He said this is the first time teachers will have their own Council.

“Each profession has their own body and that is one of the main goals (from teachers), to have their own.”

Minister of Public Enterprise Lautafi Selafi Purcell, who is also responsible for the Public Service Commission, cut in.

Lautafi explained the council handles matters concerning teachers and everything else that was mentioned in the legislation.

“But P.S.C. over looks employment in the government and the connection is the council makes recommendations, for example, on salaries, and P.S.C. looks at it and see if it’s appropriate or not.”

M.P. for Faleata East, Aveau Niko Palamo, told Parliament an association is different from a council which deals specifically with registration of teachers.

In deliberating over the report, M.P. for Aana Alofi no. 3, Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster, raised concerns on the council’s assessment contradicting with that from P.S.C. and mission schools.

His concerns related to teachers who are not accepted from government schools but are taken in by mission schools.

“If the council doesn’t accept the registration of a certain teacher, that would contradict private and mission schools, who have their own choice to accept the teacher and I say this because it’s happening today.”

Lenatai responded that the matter has been consulted on with mission and private schools, who have agreed to what’s being outlined.

“Also the council assessment is on applications on those registered, but anything else like employment; it’s not part of their functions.”

Another area of concern highlighted was whether graduates from other areas still needed to have two years of teaching experience before they could teach.

Leala reminded Parliament of the many graduates who finish school and take up teaching, while waiting for another job.

“But it’s clear in the legislation that they must go back and study teaching for another two years to get [a] teaching qualification.”

The Whip also asked why a teacher had to renew their teaching license every three years and not five or 10 years.

In his view, if that happens, the teachers would have to pay more fees and go through the process over and over again.

Lenatai cut in.

He clarified that, if the graduate has the qualifications, then the council has the discretion on the application.

Tuilaepa took the floor, to speak of licence renewals for teachers.

“I still think it should be renewed [every] two years so that their ability is assessed,” said Tuilaepa.

“We put too much emphasis on the teacher, leaving the students out. The most important subject here is the children and that is why we monitor teachers. The only way to do that is to look at the results and, if the students are failing their exams, it’s more reason to keep an eye on teachers.”

There is no country in the world where someone can renew their car or bus license without paying fees, he said.

The Teachers Bill 2015 was on its third reading on Tuesday.

Parliament has adjourned until 15 December, 2015.