History of ETV

The real story might be the wonderful dedication of the ETV people and fond memories of their time in American Samoa. It is more than 50 years since the project started and many of those involved still share great stories and consider their time in American Samoa “the good old days”.

Educational Television in American Samoa – Introduction

In 1962 when Governor H. Rex Lee first dreamed of introducing a Territory-wide educational system using television and experts as the means of instruction, no one knew what the end result would

 1962 – Educational Television in American Samoa

Planning went forward for the construction of 22 consolidated elementary schools with the materials and supervision to be provided by the Government and labor and land to be furnished by the

Consolidated school, Nua, American Samoa 1963 – Educational Television in American Samoa

Construction was under way on American Samoa’s first consolidated elementary school at Nua village, to serve students from seven villages and to replace inadequate scattered schools in
Leone High School Administration Building 1964 – Educational Television in American Samoa


Fiscal year 1964 was a year of exacting and complex preparation for one of the most dramatic educational experiments yet attempted in any of the world’s underdeveloped lands: the
KC Gordon facing the cameras in 1965 1965 – Educational Television in American Samoa

Television teachers recording lesson programs for later broadcast at the Kirwan Educational Television Center, Utulei.  Lessons are prerecorded on video tape for later broadcast to the new
Interior of transmitter control room atop Mount Alava. 1966 – Educational Television in American Samoa


Fiscal year 1966 was the second year of operation for American Samoa’s bold new instructional television system. It was a year not without problems and frustrations (which
Aerial view of Matafao Consolidated Elementary School 1967 – Education Television in American Samoa

Text from the 1967 Education section of the Governor’s Report is included below.  There is a great deal of explanation and one gains the sense that Lee is under pressure even in there
Understanding local agriculture 1968 – Educational Television in American Samoa

Fiscal year 1968 was the fourth year of operation for American Samoa’s unique instructional system in which television is used as the major teaching tool rather than as a supplement. It
Early childhood training 1969 – Educational Television in American Samoa

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
Village parents of children in participated the Early Childhood Education program 1970 – Educational Television in American Samoa

Early in fiscal year 1970, after an executive and legislative study of several proposals, the University of Hawaii was chosen as educational consultant to American Samoa. An educational task
Governor H. Rex Lee

Governor H. Rex Lee

google-site-verification: google38afe584a62777bc.html