1969 – Special Emphasis on Early Childhood Education

1969:

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As the Department of Education completed its fifth year in which educational television served as the basic teaching tool, progress was made in upgrading the system and the qualifications of American Samoans employed in the department.

Special emphasis was placed on the Early Childhood Education program which began this year; plans for major expansion were made to provide for the more than 2,500 preschool children who will be taking part. Samoan custom limits contact between the young and the adult, and the village child entering school is frequently unable to communicate properly. Each child in the program, which has received parental acceptance, attends either two or three classes weekly on a rotating basis.

Research and measurement continued under a 3-year program funded by a title III grant from the U.S. Office of Education

Four American Samoans were made principals of elementary schools during the fiscal year and the number of Samoans producer-directors in the television production was increased from two to four, giving contract producer-director more time to concentrate on training local employees.

The government sent 135 young people to the United States to colleges under the scholarship loan program

A major shift of emphasis from the 4-year college to the 2-year vocational training program was made in an attempt to supply the territory with badly needed skilled workers.