Starting April 14, 2009, I am posted as National Assessment and Examination Framework Specialist for the Samoa Education Sector Project II (ESPII). I will be serving as Consultant for this ADB-funded project for a total of 12 man-months.
This is my first assignment in the Pacific Region and it is really challenging! I am sharing you how Educational Assessment is practiced here in Samoa and in other Pacific Island countries.
Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa, became the first South Pacific country to be gain political independence in 1962. It is located on the western part of the Samoan archipelago while American Samoa is one the eastern part.
In ESPII, one of my major outputs is to help the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture (MESC) to prepare its National Assessment Policy Framework. This policy is in line with the modernization of Samoa's primary curriculum and assessment.
At present, Samoa's education system is loaded with national examinations. The following are existing examinations in the system:
- Samoa Primary Education Literacy Levels (SPELL) Test for Year 4
- SPELL Test for Year 6
- Year 8 National Examinations
- Samoan School Certificate Examinations for Year 12
- Pacific Senior Secondary Level Exams for Year 13 (administered by the South Pacific Board of Education Assessment based in Fiji)
All the national examinations are administered by the Assessment Unit of the Curriculum, Materials and Assessment Division of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture.
Purposes of the National Examinations in Samoa
1. Samoa Primary Education Literacy Levels Examinations (for Year 4 and 6)
- To monitor the literacy level in the primary levels focusing on English, Gagana Samoa and Numeracy.
2. Year 8 National Examinations
- For certification at the end of the primary level, and for ranking purpose to do selection to government senior schools (Avele College, Samoa College and Vaipouli College)
3. Samoa School Certificate (for Year 12)
- For certification and selection to Year 13 level
4. Pacific Senior Secondary Certificate Exams (for Year 13)
- For certification and selection to university and other tertiary institutions. This test is administered by South Pacific Board of Education Assessment based in Fiji.
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6 comments:
Great work, but just wondering, whether this project ever come to completion, producing what it's proposed goals and objectives?
thanks
fs
Hi Faguele... thanks for the comments. The ESPII is still on-going but the National Assessment Policy Framework is now published. However, there are still some initiatives that need to be implemented. Hope to get in tough with you when I get to Samoa early next year.
A website is the most convenient means to reach people fast and with volume of information.
Excellent travail, mais me demandais, si ce projet jamais venu à l'achèvement, la production de ce que c'est buts et objectifs proposés?
Hi Richard...congrats with the work you gave done in Assessment. I have a copy of the SNSAPF and its good that MESC has finally got a framework to guide all stakeholders in ensuring that studetns ultimately achieve their goals in learning through various aspects of assessment.
I have a question to ask you this is related to something that I am interested in.
What are your views of what particular component/aspects of assessment that you think needs improvement in Samoa? or what assessment issues that need to be addressed so that administrators, examiners, moderators, teachers and students are well informed?
Hi Richard...congrats with the work you have done in Assessment. I have a copy of the SNSAPF and its good that MESC has finally got a framework to guide all stakeholders in ensuring that studetns ultimately achieve their goals in learning through various aspects of assessment.
I have a question to ask you, this is related to something that I am interested your expert views will be highly appreciated.
What are your views of what particular component/aspect of assessment that you think needs improvement in Samoa? or
What assessment issues that need to be addressed so that administrators, examiners, moderators, teachers and students are to be well informed of?
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