Another 100-plus public school teachers will be sitting the Praxis I test this summer, while the local Department of Education is awaiting results for those who took the same test earlier this year, says DOE director Vaitinasa Dr. Salu Hunkin-Finau.

In March this year, 500-plus public school teachers took the Praxis I test, which Vaitinasa told Samoa News “is a basic competency test for teachers.”

As reported previously by Samoa News the test is for public school teachers who have never taken this exam before and the results of this data will be used as part of the DOE’s profile for each teacher. This is part of the DOE’s plan to have all teachers hold a Bachelor of Education degree by the year 2016.

Earlier this week two parents contacted Samoa News and alleged that the test results have already been released and that a majority of teachers failed the test, but didn’t provide any other details except further allegations that nothing has been done by DOE to improve test results for teachers.

Responding to Samoa News inquires, Vaitinasa said Wednesday that DOE is still waiting for all the tests results to come in.

“In addition, another 100-plus teachers will be sitting the Praxis I next month. We need to have ALL the test results back before we issue a public statement regarding the results,” she said. “Teachers will be taking courses this coming summer to improve skills, knowledge and to become certified. The intent is to HELP our teachers rather than taking a punitive attitude.”

“The Praxis I teacher exam is for basic licensing purposes. We are happy to use this tool to gather data so that teacher development is responsive to the needs of our teachers,” Vaitinasa pointed out.

Early this year, Vaitinasa told Samoa News that a combined passing score of 170 points of the PRAXIS I Reading, Writing and Math, is one of the “rites of passage" criteria to be admitted to the University of Hawai’i Cohort program for Year 3 and Year 4 course work leading to a Bachelor of Education degree.

According to the director, it’s estimated the 500-plus tests will cost the DOE close to $40,000, as each test is $75 per person. She noted that should teachers need to re-sit the PRAXIS I, they will pay the second sitting out of their own pockets.