Student Assessment and Examinations in Samoa

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.

Student Assessment Unit in Nepal

I was posted as the Classroom Assessment and Examination Consultant for the Secondary Education Support Project (SESP) in Nepal from November 6, 2007, to May 6, 2008. I worked with the Department of Education, particularly with other four central agencies, namely: Office of Controller of Examinations (OCE), National Center for Educational Development (NCED), Curriculum Development Center and Higher Secondary Education Board (HSEB).

One of the major accomplishments of this assignment was the establishment of Student Assessment Units (SAU) in the four central agencies and eventually at the Regional Education Departments and in the District Education Offices.

The SAU is an organizational unit that is primarily responsible in defining, developing, prioritizing, administering and monitoring activities related to classroom assessment and examinations.

The SAU is committed to increasing student achieving by implementing higher standards through the assessment programs and activities. The SAU of the various agencies supports the administration of the following:

a) District Level Examinations for Grade 8
b) School Leaving Certification Examination (SLC Exams) for Grades 10 and 12
c) School-Based Assessment (SBA)
d) Teacher-training Evaluation

Continuous Assessment System (CAS), Liberal Promotion Policy (LPP) and SBA are the pillars supporting SAU in various agencies and offices under the Ministry of Education and Sports.