How does bilingual language learning work in Samoa's schools?

Samoa's school pathway develops Samoan and English together. English is mainly oral in Years 1 and 2, formal English literacy begins in Year 3, and Gagana Samoa remains part of the curriculum through the school years.

Which national assessments measure English and Gagana Samoa in Samoa?

SPELL provides diagnostic assessments in Years 4 and 6, SNAPE assesses Year 8, SNJSC assesses Year 10, and SSLC assesses Year 12. SSLC results use L1 to L4, with L2 Achieved or higher counted as a pass.

What official support exists for Samoan language learning in Samoa?

The Samoa Language Commission supports Samoan's official status, everyday use, translation and interpretation. MESC or MEC manages school curricula and materials, while the National Samoan Language Framework for 2024 to 2034 supports Samoan from early childhood education through tertiary and post-school learning.

Languages in Samoa

Q: Where can adults or tertiary students study Samoan and English in Samoa?

The National University of Samoa offers Samoan Studies programmes, Samoan and English majors or minors, HSA001 Samoan as a Second Language, HSA002 Samoan 1, HEN003 Progressive English Skills and HEN004 Foundation English. Non-formal PSET options exist, but no nationwide public adult language-course network is documented.

Language learning in Samoa combines Samoan, also called Gagana Samoa, with English across schools, tertiary education, work and daily life. Samoan is an official language, while the education system develops bilingual reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. Formal courses exist through MESC or MEC schools and the National University of Samoa, but Samoa has no nationwide adult language-course network or single CEFR- or IELTS-like proficiency system.

Tip

Choose the learning route according to your goal: school literacy, Samoan maintenance, tertiary study, work or a foreign language. Use formal education for recognised progression, home and community practice for sustained Samoan use, and digital materials when connectivity is reliable. Do not assume that a course or assessment provides a nationally standardised proficiency certificate or that it is free.

byMoana&Ioane

The formal school pathway aims to develop full literacy and communication in both Samoan and English. In the primary years, English is mainly oral in Years 1 and 2, with formal English literacy beginning in Year 3. Primary education covers Years 1 to 8, and secondary Communication English is taught in Years 10 to 12. Samoan remains part of the curriculum, and the bilingual approach supports children who mainly use Samoan at home. Early childhood education officially serves children aged 3 to 4, while attendance from about 2.5 years can be available as an optional arrangement. The Ministry of Education and Culture, commonly referred to as MESC or MEC, provides curricula, teaching materials, assessments and digital learning portals. The National Samoan Language Framework, or NSLF, covers the period from 2024 to 2034 and aims to strengthen Samoan from early childhood education through post-school and tertiary education. The Education Sector Plan for 2025 to 2030 also supports Gagana Samoa and FaaSamoa. The Samoa Language Commission supports Samoan as a living language, ordinary communication, translation and interpretation. Schools use several national assessments. SPELL provides diagnostic assessment in English and Gagana Samoa in Years 4 and 6. SNAPE assesses English and Gagana Samoa in Year 8, and SNJSC is used in Year 10. The Samoa School Leaving Certificate, or SSLC, is the Year 12 qualification used for access to post-school education and training and tertiary study; the former SSC ended after 2023. Secondary results use four levels: L1 Beginner below 50 percent, L2 Achieved from 50 to 69 percent, L3 Merit from 70 to 84 percent and L4 Excellence from 85 to 100 percent. L2 to L4 count as passes. SSLC subjects include English, Communication English and Gagana Samoa. The National University of Samoa offers structured language study. Its Samoan Language and Culture Centre provides a foundation programme, a bachelor's major, a postgraduate diploma and a master's programme in Samoan Studies. The Faculty of Arts offers English and Samoan majors or minors, as well as HSA001 Samoan as a Second Language, HSA002 Samoan 1, HEN003 Progressive English Skills and HEN004 Foundation English. HSA001 is scheduled for Semester 1 and HSA002 for Semester 2. Foreign-language availability depends on the programme; advertised options include Chinese, French, Japanese and English, while the Faculty of Arts identifies Chinese and Japanese minors. Entry requirements vary by programme. A foundation programme may require the Samoa School Leaving Certificate or an equivalent qualification. One Faculty of Arts foundation example uses a 200 percent aggregate requirement including English, with at least 50 percent in English; an English result of 40 to 49 percent can lead to HEN003 before HEN004. HSA001 and HSA002 have no stated prior-language requirement in the supplied information. Mature entry to a bachelor's programme requires the applicant to be at least 20 on 1 February and to have at least three years of full-time work or training. University teaching is predominantly in English. Post-school education and training, abbreviated PSET, includes non-school learning that may be supported by the Samoa Qualifications Authority, or SQA. SQA maintains quality assurance, national competency standards and a Career Advisory Service. Its literacy standards MF02011, MF02012 and MF09004 cover reading, writing, speaking and listening for everyday life, learning and work. They use naturally occurring evidence rather than relying only on one formal examination. A nationwide employer language examination has not been established in the supplied research. Language ability also develops through homes, communities and intergenerational transmission. These informal routes are especially relevant for Samoan and can complement school learning. The national system does not establish an individual entitlement to a free external language course or a standardized proficiency certificate. Exact NUS tuition and course fees were not identified in the reviewed sources. MESC teaching materials are available online without a general conclusion that all language education is free. MESC Moodle provides Primary English, Gagana Samoa, Secondary English and Communication English resources, and NUS Online Study includes HSA001; access still depends on suitable connectivity and personal circumstances.