Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The local Education Department (ASDOE) was informed about a month ago, of the WorldTeach organization's plans of not sending volunteer teachers to American Samoa for the new school year, 2019-2020 and that it will be closing down its local office.

This is according to ASDOE director Dr. Ruth Matagi-Tofiga.

Since 2008, the US-based WorldTeach has been sending volunteer teachers to American Samoa and the ASDOE has been a major benefactor, especially in hard to fill subject areas, such as English, math, and science. Some of the volunteer teachers have stayed longer than one-year including some who prefer being stationed in Manu’a.

But in a public message addressed to the “Dear People of American Samoa”, published in last Friday’s Samoa News as a paid advertisement, WorldTeach board of directors and executives announced that it has decided to take pause, in order to think strategically about the future of the organization and to re-calibrate as necessary and feasible.

“During this phase, we will not be sending any new year-long volunteers for the 2019-20 academic calendar,” said the message, which noted that WorldTeach would be closing its offices in American Samoa this August, and thanked “each and every community member with whom we have spoken and worked with over the years.”

Responding to Samoa News inquiries, Matagi-Tofiga said ASDOE was informed a month ago about WorldTeach’s plans and she met with local WorldTeach coordinator and executive Dr. Shavarini.

She said she also had the chance to talk to the president of the WorldTeach board of directors via webinar.

“According to the president and executive director, the WorldTeach Program globally won't be sending out anymore cohorts of volunteers, but is willing to assist American Samoa in its recruitment efforts,” Matagi Tofiga told Samoa News yesterday. “WorldTeach Organization is revisiting the future of the organization; finance has been one of the reasons cited by World Teach for revisiting the future of its programs.”

“I'd like to take this time to express my sincerest gratitude and fa'afetai tele to all our WorldTeach teachers, local coordinators and the WorldTeach Program for your support of ASDOE schools, a partnership that we have treasured. We wish you all the best,” she told Samoa News yesterday.

Asked about the need for additional teachers for school year 2019- 20, Matagi-Tofiga said that currently, ASDOE director of instruction, Faaui Vaitautolu, along with elementary and secondary divisions are working on staffing, and “this will assist us in our recruitment process.”

“We have also signed up WorldTeach teachers that want to stay on in American Samoa,” she said, adding that ASDOE is working with the ASG Department of Human Resources to identify applicants that have submitted applications to be teachers, holding AA, BA and MA degrees.

For the current school year, ASDOE has 19 WorldTeach volunteers who teach at the elementary and secondary levels.

Matagi-Tofiga said ASDOE has put the word out on the ASDOE website <www.doe.as> regarding teacher applications.

Meanwhile, Samoa News understands that some lawmakers are planning to request a committee hearing, when the Fono convenes next month for the 2nd Regular session, to hear more details from ASDOE on plans to recruit more teachers for the new school year, now that WorldTeach will not be sending volunteers.