Building education system resilience in Samoa: Exploring systems, policies and classroom practices

This report presents the findings of research on education system resilience in Samoa during and immediately following the COVID-19 pandemic in order to build a deeper understanding of policies and practices in place, and what lessons can be drawn to support system-wide adjustments to mitigate future school disruptions. Data included case studies of practice, student assessment data and secondary data analysis of the 2018-2021 PILNA surveys for Samoa. The study identified the policies and practices that contribute to the Samoan education system's capacity to respond and recover from crisis and the factors that can drive system resilience, including social, human and economic considerations. Findings relate to resourcing, growth, differentiation, wellbeing, inclusion, collaboration, coordination, leadership, and autonomy. Rather than focusing on gaps in system readiness, this study highlights the strengths and innovations in the education system and considers ways in which policymakers, school leaders, teachers, parents and the community collaborate to support improved teaching and learning. This project formed part of a broader investment by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFAT) and was commissioned in 2020 under a Technical Assistance Facility as part of the Education Sector Support Programme (ESSP). In 2021, support for the research continued under the newly established DFAT-funded Tautua Program.