90090 Independent State of Samoa SABER Country Report EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT 2013 Policy Goals Status 1. Establishing an Enabling Environment Laws and regulations exist to provide access to health and child protection interventions, and they are being drafted for nutrition interventions. Coordination is low between government actors and there is no multi-sectoral ECD policy. ECD services are free of charge in Samoa, however the level of public resources is low to ensure that all children have access to services. 2. Implementing Widely Despite policy designed to ensure access to health, nutrition and child protection services, coverage remains low and access is inequitable by socioeconomic status and urban/rural location. Early childhood care and education services are not publicly provided and consequently coverage is low. 3. Monitoring and Assuring Quality More comprehensive survey and administrative data are required to evaluate the full spectrum of ECD services and outcomes. Infrastructure and service delivery standards are established and complied within early childhood care and education. THE WORLD BANK SAMOA ǀ EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT SABER COUNTRY REPORT |2013 This report presents an analysis of the Early Childhood coordination. Improvements in coverage and data Development (ECD) programs and policies which affect availability are required to ensure that all young young children in the Samoa. This report is part of a children are receiving the necessary services and care to series of reports prepared by the World Bank using the develop fully and reach their potential in life. SABER-ECD framework 1. The Country Report includes analysis of early learning, health, nutrition, social and child protection policies and interventions in Samoa, SABER – Early Childhood Development along with regional and international comparisons. SABER – ECD collects, analyzes and disseminates comprehensive information on ECD policies around the world. In each participating country, extensive multi- Samoa and Early Childhood Development sectoral information is collected on ECD policies and Samoa is an independent, Polynesian Pacific island programs through a desk review of available country comprised of ten islands, two of which are government documents, data and literature, and relatively large (Upolu and Savaii). The total land area is interviews with a range of ECD stakeholders, including 2,934 square kilometers and over 70% of the population government officials, service providers, civil society, lives in small villages located along the narrow coastal development partners and scholars. The SABER-ECD plains. The country’s population is nearly 200,000, with framework presents a holistic and integrated approximately 34 percent below the age of 14. From assessment of how the overall policy environment in a December to March the islands are vulnerable to country affects young children’s development. This hurricane and cyclones and in 1990 and 1992 suffered assessment can be used to identify how countries drastically from two cyclones and again in 2002. 2 address the same policy challenges related to ECD, with the ultimate goal of designing effective policies for The language Samoan is the main language spoken and used in Parliament and in the communities. This makes young children and their families. communication easy and is a uniting factor for all Samoans. However, English is also widely spoken and is Box 1 on the following page presents an abbreviated list of interventions and policies that the SABER-ECD another medium for international and commercial approach looks for in countries when assessing the level communication within Government and the private of ECD policy development. This list is not exhaustive, sector. Both Samoan and English are used as languages but is meant to provide an initial checklist for countries of instruction in educational institutions. to consider the key policies and interventions needed Each of the relevant ministries operating in the ECD across sectors. system has a sectoral focus and there is little Snapshot of ECD Indicators in Samoa with Solomon Samoa Fiji Tonga Vanuatu Regional Comparison Islands Infant Mortality (deaths per 1,000 live births) 17 15 23 13 12 Under-5 Mortality (deaths per 1,000 live 20 17 27 16 14 births) Maternal Mortality Ratio (deaths per 100,000 29 34 100 140 150 births) Gross Preprimary Enrollment Rate (2010) 38% No data 49% 21% 59% Birth registration 2000-2010 48% No data 80% 98% 26% Source: UNICEF Country Statistics, 2010, UNESCO Institute for Statistics, WHO, 2010 1 SABER-ECD is one domain within the World Bank initiative, Systems Approach to Better Education Results (SABER), which is designed to provide comparable and comprehensive assessments of country policies. 2 Source: CIA World Fact book, Samoa country page, 2011 SYSTEMS APPROACH FOR BETTER EDUCATION RESULTS 2 SAMOA ǀ EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT SABER COUNTRY REPORT |2013 Box 1: A checklist to consider how well ECD is promoted at the country level What should be in place at the country level to promote coordinated and integrated ECD interventions for young children and their families? Healthcare • Standard health screenings for pregnant women • Skilled attendants at delivery • Childhood immunizations • Well-child visits Nutrition • Breastfeeding promotion • Salt iodization • Iron fortification Early Learning • Parenting programs (during pregnancy, after delivery and throughout early childhood) • High quality childcare, especially for working parents • Free preprimary school (preferably at least two years with developmentally appropriate curriculum and classrooms, and quality assurance mechanisms) Social Protection • Services for orphans and vulnerable children • Policies to protect rights of children with special needs and promote their participation and access to ECD services • Financial transfer mechanisms or income supports to reach the most vulnerable families (could include cash transfers, social welfare, etc.) Child Protection • Mandated birth registration • Job protection and breastfeeding breaks for new mothers • Specific provisions in judicial system for young children • Guaranteed paid parental leave of least six months • Domestic violence laws and enforcement • Tracking of child abuse (especially for young children) • Training for law enforcement officers in regards to the particular needs of young children Three Key Policy Goals for Early Childhood to address all three goals. As described in Figure 1, for Development each policy goal, a series of policy levers are identified, through which decision-makers can strengthen ECD. SABER-ECD identifies three core policy goals that countries should address to ensure optimal ECD Strengthening ECD policies can be viewed as a outcomes: Establishing an Enabling Environment, continuum; as described in Table 1 (on the following Implementing Widely and Monitoring and Assuring page), countries can range from a latent to advanced Quality. Improving ECD requires an integrated approach level of development within the different policy levers and goals. SYSTEMS APPROACH FOR BETTER EDUCATION RESULTS 3 SAMOA ǀ EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT SABER COUNTRY REPORT |2013 Figure 1: Three core ECD policy goals Table 1: ECD policy goals and levels of development Level of Development ECD Policy Goal Minimal legal framework; Regulations in some Developed legal Non-existent legal Establishing an some programs with sectors; functioning framework; robust inter- framework; ad-hoc Enabling sustained financing; some inter-sectoral institutional financing; low inter- Environment inter-sectoral coordination; sustained coordination; sustained sectoral coordination. coordination. financing. financing. Near-universal Universal coverage; Coverage expanding but Low coverage; pilot coverage in some comprehensive gaps remain; programs Implementing programs in some sectors; established strategies across sectors; established in a few Widely sectors; high inequality programs in most integrated services for sectors; inequality in in access and outcomes. sectors; low inequality all, some tailored and access and outcomes. in access. targeted. Information on Information on outcomes at national, Minimal survey data Information on outcomes outcomes from national regional and local available; limited at national level; standards to individual levels; Monitoring and levels; standards for standards for provision for services exist in some standards exist for all Assuring Quality services exist for most of ECD services; no sectors; no system to sectors; system in place sectors; system in place enforcement. monitor compliance. to regularly monitor and to regularly monitor enforce compliance. compliance. SYSTEMS APPROACH FOR BETTER EDUCATION RESULTS 4 SAMOA ǀ EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT SABER COUNTRY REPORT |2013 Policy Goal 1: Establishing an Enabling According to the national health services, young children are required to receive a complete course of Environment childhood immunizations 4 and well-child visits 5. At each  Policy Levers: Legal Framework • Inter- check-up there is a list of four developmental sectoral Coordination • Finance milestones that must be assessed. If a child does not meet the standards they may be referred to a medical An Enabling Environment is the foundation for the officer if necessary. design and implementation of effective ECD policies. 3 An enabling environment consists of the following: the Steps are being taken to develop and adopt national existence of an adequate legal and regulatory laws and regulations that promote appropriate dietary framework to support ECD; coordination within sectors consumption by pregnant women and young children. and across institutions to deliver services effectively; Regulations for the iodization of salt and iron and, sufficient fiscal resources with transparent and fortification of foods can promote better nutrition for efficient allocation mechanisms. young children. In Samoa, the draft National Food Standards Bill, which is expected to be passed in 2013, Policy Lever 1.1: will include measures to ensure the iodization of salt Legal Framework and fortification of iron. The legal framework comprises all of the laws and Another important dietary aspect for young children is regulations which can affect the development of young breastfeeding. International evidence shows that children in a country. The laws and regulations which exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life, impact ECD are diverse due to the array of sectors which followed with complementary feeding until 2 years of influence ECD and because of the different age, is required to ensure the nutritional well-being of constituencies that ECD policy can and should target, children and can be an effective strategy to reduce including pregnant women, young children, parents, and infant mortality rates and promote healthy caregivers. development. In Samoa, the Ministry of Health adopted a Breastfeeding Policy in 1995. The policy aims to National laws mandate the provision of health care for protect, promote, and support breastfeeding in all pregnant women and young children. The Government health care facilities (i.e. hospitals, clinics, Government of Samoa (GoS) has taken measures to community care services and baby care centers). The build on existing legislation and improve the availability policy does reflect in full the International Code of of health services for pregnant women and young Breast Milk Substitutes, which is an international health children. Policy states that all women are entitled to policy framework for breastfeeding promotion adopted antenatal and post-natal care free of charge at all public by the World Health Organization. The draft health facilities. Furthermore, the Nursing and Employment and Labor Relations Bill will build on the Midwifery Act of 2007 states that the “nursing and Breastfeeding Policy of 1995. midwifery services provided to all person in Samoa must meet accepted international standards and are Policies do not offer suitable opportunities for parents consistent with the human rights applying to all persons and caregivers to provide care to newborns and in Samoa”. Although it is not mandatory, the National infants in their early years. Table 2 compares parental Health and Aids Policy 2011-2016 encourages HIV and leave policy in Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, and Vanuatu. In Samoa, STD testing for pregnant women for the purpose of Section 44 of the draft Labor and Employment Bill states identifying mother-to-child transmission of infection. If women are entitled to either four weeks of pay at 100% of a pregnant mother is identified with HIV or an STD, follow-up referrals are provided. 4 List of immunizations includes: Hepatitis B; Diphtheria; Tetanus; Pertussis; Measles; Mumps; Rubella; Polio; Hamemophilis Influenza type B; and Tuberculosis. 3 5 Brinkerhoff, 2009; Britto, Yoshikawa, & Boller, 2011; Vargas- Well-child visits take place at the following ages: 1 week; 6 Baron, 2005 weeks; 10 weeks; 14 weeks; 6 months; and 12 months of age. SYSTEMS APPROACH FOR BETTER EDUCATION RESULTS 5 SAMOA ǀ EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT SABER COUNTRY REPORT |2013 Table 2: Regional Comparison of Parental Leave Policies Samoa Fiji Tonga Vanuatu Minimum of 4 weeks paid All workers: 12 weeks at 17% of No parental leave guaranteed All workers: 14 weeks at leave at 100%, up to an wage, 547 days unpaid; paid by for all workers; 12 weeks at minimum 66% of wage; additional 22 unpaid; 5 days employer 100% wage for government paid by employer (new paternity leave. workers only, paid by legislation will regulate government across employers) salary or 6 weeks and two-thirds of normal salary, plus which is supported by the Ministry of Women, additional unpaid leave up to a maximum of 26 weeks (total Community, and Social Development. The main objective combined paid and unpaid leave). The policy does not is for the Ministry to help engage men to take the lead in adhere to the ILO Maternity Protection Convention, eliminating violence within the Samoan home. however it does suggest adequate time and accommodation should be provided to encourage women Policy exists to provide support to persons with to breastfeed. In addition to maternity leave, fathers are disabilities and to support orphans and vulnerable entitled to 5 days of unpaid leave. children. The National Policy for Persons with Disability and Plan of Action was developed in 2009. The Policy Free publicly provided early childhood education does states that interventions must be available to support not exist in Samoa. According to the Education Act 2009, children with disabilities and their families. This includes the formal education system in Samoa includes primary early interventions, as well as education, health, and and secondary education, which is for children aged 6 to community awareness programs. Furthermore, the Special 18, and tertiary education. There are no public preprimary Needs Education Policy 2006 aims to provide specific education services in Samoa, but rather they are offered support to individuals with physical disability, hearing through non-governmental organizations and private impairment, intellectual disability, visual impairment, and sector organizations under the umbrella of the National severe behavior disorder, however this only applies to the Council of Early Childhood Care and Education of Samoa. formal education system and therefore captures children Early childhood care and education is discussed in more at age 6, but not before. There is no specific policy to detail in Policy Goal 2 of this Country Report. support orphans and vulnerable children, but rather this area is included within the National Policy for Children of Child protection policies and services have been Samoa 2010-2015. Specifically, policy outcome 3 aims to established to ensure the well-being of children. The ensure the provision of adequate, flexible and effective Births and Deaths Registration Ordinance of 1961 was support services that caters to the needs of vulnerable replaced with the Births, Deaths and Marriages Act children. 2001. The Act states that notice of a birth must be provided within seven days, and that the birth must be Policy Lever 1.2: formally registered within six months or a monetary Intersectoral Coordination fine is imposed (although this aspect of the law is not widely enforced). Another specific measure taken is the Development in early childhood is a multi-dimensional development of a national judicial system that puts the process 6 . In order to meet children’s diverse needs welfare of the child at the forefront by providing during the early years, government coordination is specialized training for judges, lawyers and law essential, both horizontally across different sectors as enforcement officers. well as vertically from the local to national levels. In many countries, non-state actors (either domestic or Furthermore, specific actions have been taken to promote international) participate in ECD service delivery; for this the reduction of family violence, including training for reason, mechanisms to coordinate with non-state actors ECCE teachers to identify child abuse and neglect, tracking are also essential. and reporting of child abuse activities, and creation of a taskforce called “Men Against Violence Advocacy Group” 6 Naudeau et al, 2011; UNESCO-OREALC, 2004; Neuman, 2007 SYSTEMS APPROACH FOR BETTER EDUCATION RESULTS 6 SAMOA ǀ EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT SABER COUNTRY REPORT |2013 The Government of Samoa does not have an explicit commitment and ownership of the focus on child ECD policy, however it does have the National Policy development and child protection in Samoa. for the Children of Samoa 2010-2015, which was approved by Cabinet in 2010. Although the National No Ministry is tasked to oversee ECD in Samoa. Three Policy covers the age spectrum 0 to 18, there are ministries work in ECD in Samoa: Ministry of Women, specific measures for ECD aged children. The National Community and Social Development; Ministry of Health; Policy recognizes that the development of children from and Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture. The early years onwards is the primary determinant for a Ministry of Women Community and Social Development person’s success later in life. As such the policy is an is mandated by the GoS to facilitate issues on children overarching framework that provides the direction for at the national level as well as report on behalf of the the care, protection and development of children from GoS on all national issues pertaining to children in birth to 18 years of age. It takes into account the relation to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. various services and programs for children and multi- Due to the size of Samoa no officer is responsible for level interventions. Although the policy is not specific to ECD, but rather there is an officer for all children and ECD-aged children, it does provide strong policy focus youth. on child health, protection, and education. No integrated service delivery manual exists in Samoa; The three primary objectives of the National Policy are there is a coordination committee for all childhood as follows: 1) to develop and implement a national interventions, but not one specific to ECD aged agenda for children in line with Government’s national children. Samoa does not have an integrated service vision for development; 2) to strengthen coordination, delivery manual for ECD interventions. Coordination is monitoring and evaluation of all programs and services achieved through the National Council on the Rights of targeted at children; and 3) to enhance cross sectoral the Child. As noted previously, the council is not specific to ECD aged children, but rather is for all children and adolescents in Samoa. Members include a combination Box 2: Key Laws and Regulations of state and non-state organizations, which has lead to Governing ECD in Samoa instances of effective coordination between all entities. • National Policy for Children of Samoa 2010- The members include: Ministry of Women, Community 2015 and Social Development; Ministry of Education, Sports • National Health and Aids Policy 2011-2016 and Culture; Ministry of Health; Ministry of Justice Courts and Administration; Office of the Attorney • Draft Education Sector Plan 2012-2014 General; Samoa Law Reform Commission; Ministry of • Draft Labor and Employment Relations Bill Justice Courts and Administration; Mapusaga O Aiga 2012 (NGO); and the National Council of Early childhood care • National Policy for Persons with Disability and and education of Samoa. The National Council meets at Plan of Action 2009 least 6 times every financial year (July 1 to June 30) and on a needs basis. The Convention on the Rights of the • Health Care Professional Registration and Child Partnership Committee, which provide technical Standards Act 2007 advice to the Council, also adjourns at least 6 times • Nursing and Midwifery Act 2007 every financial year. • National Health Services Act 2006 • National Curriculum Policy Framework 2006 The Convention on the Rights of the Child Partnership Committee is a technical advisory group to the National • Births, Deaths and Marriage Act 2002 Council and consists of individuals from the following • United Nations Convention on the Rights of organizations: Ministry of Health; Ministry of Education; the Child (ratified November 11, 1994) Ministry of Justice Courts and Administration; Ministry of Police; National Health Services; Office of the Attorney General; Samoa Law Reform Commission; Loto Taumafai (NGO); Aoga Fiamalamalama School (NGO); SYSTEMS APPROACH FOR BETTER EDUCATION RESULTS 7 SAMOA ǀ EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT SABER COUNTRY REPORT |2013 Mapusaga O Aiga (NGO); Samoa Victim Support Group education, policy and government support are limited. (NGO); Nuanua o le Alofa Council for Disabilities; and According to the UNESCO UIS Statistics in Brief the National Council for Churches (NGO). document, approximately 13.5 percent of government expenditure are allocated to education, which amounts to 5.8 percent of GDP (as of 2008). However, only 2 Policy Lever 1.3: Finance percent of education funding is allocated towards preprimary education, which is provided as a grant to While legal frameworks and inter-sectoral coordination service provider. Depending on the service provider, are crucial to establishing an enabling environment for parents and communities are required to pay fees per ECD, adequate financial investment is key to ensure that usage, including tuition, matriculation, and resources are available to implement policies and contributions to parent committees, amongst other. achieve service provision goals. Investments in ECD can In the health sector, the National Health Service Act 2006 yield high public returns, but are often undersupplied states that health services related to pregnancy and without government support. Investments during the young children are officially free. These services include: early years can yield greater returns than equivalent labor and delivery; immunizations; well-child visit; investments made later in a child’s life cycle and can growth monitoring and promotion; antenatal check-ups lead to long-lasting intergenerational benefits 7. Not only for pregnant women; and treatment for various do investments in ECD generate high and persistent illnesses, including diarrhea, upper respiratory tract returns, they can also enhance the effectiveness of other infection, pneumonia, and tuberculosis. In practice, this social investments and help governments address policy is fairly effective. multiple priorities with single investments. Table 3 illustrates overall out-of-pocket expenditure as There is no clear method or criteria for determining a percentage of all private health expenditure and out- and forecasting ECD expenditures in health, nutrition, of-pocket expenditure as percentage of total health or child protection; preprimary school is privately expenditures. In both measures, Samoa does well by provided. To fully evaluate the strengths and areas for international standards and by comparison with improvement within an ECD system, it is necessary to regional countries. Individuals and families pay only 8 have a comprehensive, systematic methodology for percent of out-of-pocket expenditure as a percentage of calculating investment in ECD. Currently, it is difficult to total expenditures, which is significantly lower than the disaggregate spending in health, nutrition, and social rates in Fiji and Tonga, but above the rates in Solomon and child protection by ECD age group. In order to Islands and Vanuatu. The Government finances 100 maximize the efficiency of expenditure and capture percent of routine EPI vaccines, which demonstrates economies of scale, it is necessary to coordinate complete ownership of the intervention. budgets across ministries, delineating responsibilities and enlarging purchasing power. Despite coordination The level of remuneration for ECD service personnel is at the service delivery level, there is no evidence of low. There are no government guidelines or policy coordination between budgets in Samoa. In the pertaining to the remuneration for preprimary teachers, education sector there are explicit criteria and nor is there information available on the level of pay. allocations for expenditure, however this applies to the For this reason it is not possible to assess whether the primary and secondary levels, and not preprimary level of remuneration is competitive with primary school, which is private provision. teachers and provides incentives for teachers entering the field. Furthermore, community-based childcare Public sector financial policies are designed to centers are paid by communities and private sources. promote free access to health services and are Government Women Representatives assist health and supported with strong government commitment. In wellbeing programs in villages such as immunization programs and registration of births. They are 7 Valerio & Garcia, 2012; WHO, 2005; Hanushek & Kimko, compensated at a rate of 125 Samoan Tala per day. 2000; Hanushek & Luque, 2003 SYSTEMS APPROACH FOR BETTER EDUCATION RESULTS 8 SAMOA ǀ EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT SABER COUNTRY REPORT |2013 Table 3: Select health expenditure indicators, compared with region Solomon Samoa Fiji Tonga Vanuatu Islands Out-of-pocket expenditure as a percentage of total health 8% 20% 4% 13% 5% expenditures Government expenditure on health as a percentage of GDP 5.7% 3.4% 8.0% 4.1% 4.8% Routine EPI vaccines financed by government, 2010 100% N/A 45% 90% N/A Source: WHO Global Health Expenditure Database, 2011; TransMonEE Database, 2010; Source: UNICEF Country Statistics, 2010. Policy Options to Strengthen the Enabling  Finance – To fully evaluate the strengths and areas for improvement within an ECD system, it is Environment for ECD in Samoa necessary to have a comprehensive, systematic methodology for calculating investment in ECD.  Legal Framework – Laws are in place to ensure Currently, it is difficult to disaggregate spending in that young children have access to essential health health, nutrition, and social and child protection by interventions. To address and improve the ECD age group. Because early childhood care and nutritional status of young children, the education is provided by non-public entities, it is not Government should ensure that the National Food possible to evaluate the full cost and effectiveness of Standards Bill is passed and implemented in an the system. In developing a comprehensive efficient and effective manner to ensure that young methodology it could also be useful to work closely children consume iodized salt and fortified iron. with non-state ECD stakeholders to capture the full spectrum of ECD investment. This will provide policy  Legal Framework – The maternity leave makers with detailed information to evaluate and framework in Samoa provides insufficient time and effectively cost ECD interventions, and shift financial financial resources to parents caring for infants. allocation to the interventions with the greatest This is a formative period in a child’s development, return on investment. one in which adequate care is essential. The GoS could consider revising maternity leave using a phased approach, during which a greater leave Policy Goal 2: Implementing Widely allowance and more financial support are afforded  Policy Levers: Scope of Programs • to families. Coverage • Equity  Inter-sectoral Coordination – The GoS should Implementing Widely refers to the scope of ECD consider development of a national ECD strategy to programs available, the extent of coverage (as a share reflect the importance and unique nature of ECD. A of the eligible population) and the degree of equity national ECD strategy could enhance the within ECD service provision. By definition, a focus on coordination and efficacy of the ECD system, as well ECD involves (at a minimum) interventions in health, as articulate the services provided to children and nutrition, education, and social and child protection, and key stakeholders involved, including each of their should target pregnant women, young children and respective responsibilities. A well-developed national their parents and caregivers. A robust ECD policy should ECD policy should be a collaborative effort that include programs in all essential sectors; provide includes a set of goals or objectives and an comparable coverage and equitable access across implementation plan to outline how the policy will regions and socioeconomic status – especially reaching be achieved. As part of developing a multi-sectoral the most disadvantaged young children and their ECD strategy, the GoS should consider appointing an families. institutional anchor as the lead agency to champion ECD. SYSTEMS APPROACH FOR BETTER EDUCATION RESULTS 9 SAMOA ǀ EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT SABER COUNTRY REPORT |2013 Policy Lever 2.1: Scope of women, and caregivers. Figure 3 presents a selection of Programs ECD interventions in Samoa. Preprimary schools are operated by the non-public entities and include private, Effective ECD systems have programs established in all Methodist, Catholic, Congregational Christian Church of essential sectors and ensure that every child and Somoa, and Village Women Committees schools. expecting mothers have guaranteed access to the essential services and interventions they need to live Within health and nutrition, community health nurses healthfully. The scope of programs assesses the extent visit the villages on a regular basis and work with the to which ECD programs across key sectors reach all health committee (or village women) to follow-up with beneficiaries. Figure 2 presents a summary of the key pregnant women and nursing mothers, carry out interventions needed to support young children and hygiene and sanitation checks of the village, as well as their families via different sectors at different stages in a conduct "well baby" clinics. As part of the well-child child’s life. visits, growth charts are maintained to track the child’s development progress. The villages are also the focal ECD programs are established in each of the core ECD point for health program at the local level including areas of focus: education, health, nutrition, and social immunizations for children, identifying nutritional and child protection. Coverage varies by intervention. problems, and helping mothers and care givers gain an There are programs that target the three main ECD understanding of their role in caring for the children. groups – children aged 0 to 83 months, pregnant Figure 2: Essential interventions during different periods of young children's development SYSTEMS APPROACH FOR BETTER EDUCATION RESULTS 10 SAMOA ǀ EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT SABER COUNTRY REPORT |2013 There are programs that aim to improve health and healthy habits in children at a young age which they will nutrition outcomes through educational messages. The continue to practice as they grow older. Since 2007 the Family and Community Wellbeing program (Aiga ma program has grown to encompass 16 preschools in the Nuu Manuia Program) is implemented by the Ministry following villages: Solosolo, Saoluafata, Saanapu-uta, of Women, Community and Social Development and Saanapu–tai, Samata, Laulii, Sauano and Siumu. services 4,390 householders. The program aims to While Figure 3 displays some of the interventions in improve the physical and social environment of families Samoa, it does not depict coverage levels. Table 4 on and communities by promoting and ensuring clean and the following page presents the range of interventions safe homes, including access to hygienic facilities and in Samoa, number of regions in which they operate, and promotion of healthy habits, such as the smoke free level of coverage using four categories: low, moderate, living premises. The Faalapotopotoga Atinae Komiti approaching universal, and universal. Complete data are Tumama Samoa (FAKTS) Program is an innovative not available for many of the interventions. Poor data healthy lifestyles intervention that targets mothers, availability is noted as a challenge and area for children, and teachers in preschools. The underlying improvement. This topic will be discussed in more detail premise is that, by targeting role models and young in Policy Goal 3.1 of this Country Report. children, it is possible to instill a deep understanding of Figure 3: ECD programs in the Samoa SYSTEMS APPROACH FOR BETTER EDUCATION RESULTS 11 SAMOA ǀ EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT SABER COUNTRY REPORT |2013 Table 4: ECD programs and coverage in the Samoa Scale ECD Intervention Pilot 8 Islands covered Total coverage programs Education State-sponsored preprimary/kindergarten education, No intervention State-sponsored ECCE No intervention Community-based ECCE Low Health Antenatal and newborn care Approaching universal Integrated management of childhood illnesses and care for development No data Childhood wellness and growth monitoring No data National immunization program Approaching universal Nutrition Micronutrient support for pregnant women No data Food supplements for pregnant women No data Micronutrient support for young children No data Food supplements for young children No data Food fortification No data Breastfeeding promotion programs (breastfeeding promotion) Moderate Anti-obesity programs encouraging healthy eating/exercise No data Feeding programs in preprimary/kindergarten schools Low Parenting Parenting integrated into health/community programs No data Home visiting programs to provide parenting messages No data Special Needs Programs for OVCs (Boarding schools & children’s homes) No intervention Interventions for children with special (emotional and physical) needs No data Anti-poverty Cash transfers conditional on ECD services or enrollment No intervention Comprehensive A comprehensive system that tracks individual children’s needs No intervention Source: SABER-ECD Policy Data Collection Instrument and SABER-ECD Program Data Collection Instrument. 8 Disaggregated data were not provided at the island level. For this reason, this section of the ECD programs and coverage table is left blank. SYSTEMS APPROACH FOR BETTER EDUCATION RESULTS 12 SAMOA ǀ EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT SABER COUNTRY REPORT |2013 high level of pregnant women receiving antenatal care at Policy Lever 2.2: Coverage least once. However, international best practice shows that pregnant women should receive antenatal care at A robust ECD policy should establish programs in all least four times. In Samoa only 58 percent of pregnant essential sectors, ensure high degrees of coverage and women benefit from a minimum of four antenatal visits. reach the entire population equitably – especially the The only comparison country with data is Solomon Islands, most disadvantaged young children – so that every child which has a rate of 65 percent for this indicator. No data and expecting mother have guaranteed access to are available on the percentage of HIV+ pregnant women essential ECD services. and HIV exposed infants who receive ARVs (anti-retroviral drug) for PMTCT (prevention to mother-to-child There are insufficient data to evaluate coverage in transmission). Samoa. For the set of indicators presented in Tables 5, 6, and 7, there are large data gaps which limit the full Further data are required to fully assess the level of evaluation of coverage in the country. This challenge is access to essential nutrition interventions for young discussed in more detail in Policy Lever 3.1 on this children and pregnant women. Table 7 presents the level Country Report. of access to essential nutrition interventions for young children and pregnant mothers. The rate of children who The level of access to essential health interventions is are exclusively breastfed until six months of age is 51 unknown for young children in Samoa. Table 5 percent. By international standards, this rate is considered presents the level of access to a selection of essential high, however it remains important to improve this rate to ECD interventions for young children in Samoa and ensure that all young children receive the full benefits of select countries in the region. The only indicator for exclusive breastfeeding until six months of age and on a which there are data is the percent of one year olds complementary basis until two years of age. immunized against DPT 9. At 87 percent, the level of immunization is high in Samoa, however it is vital that The level of access to preprimary education is low in universal immunization be provided to all children. Both Samoa. Early childhood care and education has been Fiji and Tonga have the highest rates of immunization available in Samoa since the 1970's. In 1998, with 99 and 98 percent coverage in each country, Government and non-governmental organizations respectively. Data are not available to measure the already working in the field collaborated to establish percentage of children with diarrhea who receive oral the National Council for Early childhood care and rehydration and continued feeding or the percent of education in Samoa (NCECES). The NCECES operates as children suspected of pneumonia who receive an autonomous NGO with membership comprised of antibiotics. Both of these indicators are important groups who run early childhood care and education because they represent critical interventions required centers and with representatives from the MESC and to ensure the health of young children. has the mandate of promoting and overseeing early childhood care and education. The level of access to essential health interventions is relatively low for pregnant women. Table 6 presents the There are 104 non-publicly operated early childhood care level of access to a selection of essential ECD interventions and education and care centers in Samoa, which provides for pregnant women in Samoa and select countries in the coverage to 4,137 young children. Access to preprimary region. Currently, 81 percent of births are attended by a education is low across the pacific region. This is skilled attendant, which is significantly higher than the particularly true in Samoa, where Government does not rates in Solomon Islands (70 percent) and Vanuatu (68 publicly provide preprimary school or any form of early percent). However, this rate remains well shy of the childhood care and education. Figure 4 displays the leaders in the region. Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga all have a very available data on preprimary GER in the region. The data reveals a troubling trend. Since 1998, gross enrollment has 9 DPT refers to a class of combination vaccines against three decreased from a previous high of near 55 percent to infectious diseases in humans: diphtheria, pertussis below 40 percent. Of the countries presented, Solomon (whooping cough) and tetanus. Islands Is the only country that has made substantive SYSTEMS APPROACH FOR BETTER EDUCATION RESULTS 13 SAMOA ǀ EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT SABER COUNTRY REPORT |2013 improvements in enrollment, increasing from mid 30’s to 50 percent over the same time period. Table 5: Level of access to essential health interventions for young children Solomon Samoa Fiji Tonga Vanuatu Islands Children below 5 years of age with diarrhea who receive oral rehydration and N/A N/A N/A N/A 43% continued feeding, 2006-2010 1 year olds immunized against DPT, 2010 87% 99% 70% 98% 74% Children below 5 years of age suspected of pneumonia who receive antibiotics, N/A N/A 23% N/A N/A 2006-2010 Percentage of children less than 5 years of age sleeping under Insecticide- N/A N/A N/A N/A 56% Treated Net (ITN) Source: UNICEF Country Statistics, 2010 Table 6: Level of access to health interventions for pregnant women Solomon Samoa Fiji Tonga Vanuatu Islands Births attended by skilled attendants, 2006-2010 81% 99% 70% 99% 68% Pregnant women who benefit from at least four antenatal visits, 2006-2010 58% N/A 65% N/A N/A Pregnant women who benefit from at least one antenatal visit, 2006-2010 93% 99% 70% 98% 74% HIV+ pregnant women and HIV-exposed infants who receive ARVs for N/A 87% N/A N/A N/A PMTCT. Source: UNICEF Country Statistics, 2010; UN Aids, 2011 Table 7: Level of access to essential nutrition Interventions for young children and pregnant mothers Solomon Samoa Fiji Tonga Vanuatu Islands Vitamin A supplementation coverage for children 6-59 months of age, 2010 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Children who are exclusively breastfed until 6 months of age, 2006-2010 51% 40% 74% 62% 40% Population that consumes iodized salt, 2006-2010 N/A N/A N/A N/A 23% Percentage of pregnant women with anemia 33% 56% 51% 34% 57% Source: UNICEF Country Statistics, 2010; WHO World Wide Prevalence of Anemia 1993-2005 SYSTEMS APPROACH FOR BETTER EDUCATION RESULTS 14 SAMOA ǀ EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT SABER COUNTRY REPORT |2013 Figure 4: GER for preprimary (age 3-5) in the Pacific 100 Vanuatu (data missing 1998-2000, 2002-2005) 90 Pre-Primary Gross Enrollment Rate 80 Solomon Islands 70 (data missing in 1998, 2004, 2005) 60 50 Samoa (data missing in 2005-2006) 40 30 20 Fiji (data missing in 2002, 2005, 2007, 2010) 10 0 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Tonga (data missing in 2001-2002, and after 2006) *in 2010, estimated from MoE data, not Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics, 2011; official UIS rate inequality, as well as overall low coverage, regardless of Policy Lever 2.3: Equity wealth quintile. The second indicator presented looks at the percentage of births attended by a skilled attended. There is nearly universal skilled attendance of births for Based on the robust evidence of the positive effects ECD families from the richest quintile, whereas this rate is interventions can have for children from disadvantaged only 66 percent for the poorest families backgrounds, every government should pay special attention to equitable provision of ECD services 10. One High inequity in access to ECD services is observed by of the fundamental goals of any ECD policy should be to geographic location. Figure 6 presents access to three provide equitable opportunities to all young children ECD indicators by urban and rural location. Similarly to and their families. wealth, there is high inequity in access to birth registration and skilled attendants at birth for There is high inequity in access to ECD interventions by individuals living in urban and rural locations. The data rich and poor families. As demonstrated in Figure 5, for demonstrate that 62 percent of children born in urban selected interventions, women and children from the locations are registered at birth, compared with 44 poorest quintile have less access than those in the percent in rural locations. Furthermore, 94 percent of wealthiest quintile. Specifically, only 31 percent of births are attended by a skilled attendant in urban children from the poorest quintile of families are locations, while this rate is only 75 percent in rural registered at birth, whereas this rate is 61 percent for locations. All children, regardless of geographic location, children from richest quintile. These data represent high have access to improved sanitation facilities. 10 Engle et al, 2011; Naudeau et al., 2011 SYSTEMS APPROACH FOR BETTER EDUCATION RESULTS 15 SAMOA ǀ EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT SABER COUNTRY REPORT |2013 Figure 5: Equity in access to ECD services by income quintile in Samoa 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Birth registration % Skilled attendant at birth Poorest quintile 31% 66% Righest quintile 63% 95% Source: UNICEF Country Statistics, 2010. Figure 6: Equity in access to ECD services by geographical location in Samoa 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Access to improved sanitation Birth registration % Skilled attendant at birth facilities Rural 44% 75% 100% Urban 62% 94% 100% Source: UNICEF Country Statistics, 2010. No inclusive education policy for ECE exists, however English). Although enrollment is relatively low, boys and native languages are used and access by gender is near girls are equally represented in ECE. equal. Samoa has an inclusive education policy, however it applies at the primary school level and Policy Options to Implement ECD Widely in above. Of the 4,137 children enrolled in ECE services, 32 Samoa are categorized as having special needs.  Scope of Programs – There are large gaps in The curriculum and teaching materials are translated knowledge in terms of what interventions exist and into the two major language groups (Samoan and their level of coverage. This is at least partially due to SYSTEMS APPROACH FOR BETTER EDUCATION RESULTS 16 SAMOA ǀ EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT SABER COUNTRY REPORT |2013 the sectoral approach of Government towards ECD because evidence has shown that unless programs are of and the high number of NGOs providing services in high quality, the impact on children can be negligible, or Samoa. It would be useful to undertake a mapping even detrimental. exercise to develop a database of ECD interventions. Such an initiative would enable policy Policy Lever 3.1: Data makers and ECD stakeholders to both raise Availability awareness and improve targeting mechanisms, especially for education interventions. Direct Accurate, comprehensive and timely data collection can communication strategies would be one way to promote more effective policy-making. Well-developed disseminate knowledge to families regarding the information systems can improve decision-making. In main services that children require and which particular, data can inform policy choices regarding the interventions are offered in their geographical area. volume and allocation of public financing, staff recruitment and training, program quality, adherence to  Coverage – Increasing coverage is required in standards and efforts to target children most in need. essentially all interventions and ECD sectors in Samoa. With acknowledgement of the financial Survey data are collected on access to health and child constraints, the Government must be very creative protection for young children; survey data are with its approach to ensure that more children inadequate in all sectors. The availability of survey data benefit from ECD services. One component could be varies by sector in the Samoa. As illustrated in Table 8, to strengthen and empower the roles of NGOs. To survey data exist for the health and child protection this end, it is critical to work in close partnership sectors and include access to immunizations, antenatal with NGOs to share information and experiences care and birth registration, for example. Survey data are and lead to creation of an inclusive ECD system. The not robust in the nutrition and education sectors. Government should also design interventions that Administrative data are sparse in all sectors. Of the reach children aged 0 to 3 and provide parents with select indicators presented in Table 8, the only indicator educational messages. for which there are administrative data is the ratio of children per teacher.  Equity – Equity remains a challenge in Samoa. More data disaggregated by socioeconomic status, Data exists for select indicators to differentiate ECCE location, sub-national division and special needs are access and outcomes for special groups. To some required to fully assess the equity of service degree, data are available to differentiate ECCE access provisions and potentially enable better coordination and outcomes for special groups, including rural / urban between public and non-public entities. location, socioeconomic status and by gender. More data are required to assess special groups in full. Policy Goal 3: Monitoring and Assuring Physical child development is measured, however the Quality other interrelated domains of child development (cognitive, linguistic, and socio-emotional) are not  Policy Levers: Data Availability • Quality measured in Samoa. The physical development of Standards • Compliance with Standards children is monitored and measured during well-child visits. There is no individual tracking for children to measure their cognitive, linguistic, and socio-emotional Monitoring and Assuring Quality refers to the existence of development. information systems to monitor access to ECD services and outcomes across children, standards for ECD services and systems to monitor and enforce compliance with those standards. Ensuring the quality of ECD interventions is vital SYSTEMS APPROACH FOR BETTER EDUCATION RESULTS 17 SAMOA ǀ EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT SABER COUNTRY REPORT |2013 Table 8: Availability of data to monitor ECD in Samoa Administrative Data: Indicator Tracked Special needs children enrolled in ECCE (number of) X Children attending well-child visits (number of) X Children benefitting from public nutrition interventions (number of) X Women receiving prenatal nutrition interventions (number of) X Children enrolled in ECCE by sub-national region (number of) X Is ECCE spending in education sector differentiated within education budget? X Average number of children per teacher?  Survey Data Indicator Tracked Population consuming iodized salt (%) X Vitamin A Supplementation rate for children 6 -59 months (%) X Anemia prevalence amongst pregnant women (%)  Children below the age of 5 registered at birth (%)  Children immunized against DPT3 at age 12 months (%)  Pregnant women who attend four antenatal visits (%)  Children enrolled in ECCE by socioeconomic status (%) X Policy Lever 3.2: Quality person; health and safety; animals; independence; sea and Standards air; sports; Samoa history and culture; and traditions. Ensuring quality ECD service provision is essential. A focus Learning outcomes of the child, methods of teaching the on access – without a commensurate focus on ensuring topics and suggested activities are addressed. It also quality – jeopardizes the very benefits that policymakers provides examples of work plans and timetables for hope children will gain through ECD interventions. The teacher use. Through the National Curriculum Policy quality of ECD programs is directly related to better Framework, the Guide to Preschool recognizes the role cognitive and social development in children. 11 and importance of ECE and that ECE programs must be linked with the primary education system to ensure Standards and curricula exist for early childhood care and successful transition of the child. education. In 2002, the NCECES and the MESC launched the first set of Standards for Pre-Schools in Samoa, Requirements to become an ECCE professional exist and which provides the criteria for Pre-Schools to follow to are regulated by the NCECES. The Education Act 2009 ensure that children in pre-schools enjoy and benefit establishes that the Minister of Education has the from the learning therein in all aspects. Specially, the authority to setup, manage, and modify accreditation standards focus on the following domains: literacy, systems for all teachers in the education system. In ECE, numeracy, motor skills, cognitive development, and the minimum education level for the teacher trainee is socio-psychological development. the successful completion of Year 13 or Form 6, and the minimum professional qualification for the ECE teacher Developed in collaboration by the NCECES and MESC, the is the NCECES Certificate. The certificate is a 2 semester Guide to Preschool presents the curriculum which must be (1 year) program that is administered by the NCECES followed by early childhood care and education centers. and includes more than 11 subjects, including: child The Guide to Preschool sets out the specific topics that development; language; special needs; the arts; toy teachers should introduce to the children, including: the making; observation skills and history; and theory of early childhood care and education. The program also includes a pre-service practicum component, which 11 consists of 5 weeks of in classroom time. Taylor & Bennett, 2008; Bryce et al, 2003; Naudeau et all, 2011; Victoria et al, 2003 SYSTEMS APPROACH FOR BETTER EDUCATION RESULTS 18 SAMOA ǀ EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT SABER COUNTRY REPORT |2013 ECCE professionals working are also required to complete Policy Lever 3.3 in-service training at least three times per year. The areas Compliance with Standards of training include: children’s service and safety, health, Establishing standards is essential to providing quality and first aid. ECD services and to promoting the healthy development Some health workers are required to complete specific of children. Once standards have been established, it is training in ECD. Doctors, nurses, housewives, and critical that mechanisms are put in place to ensure traditional birth attendants are required to complete compliance with standards. training in delivering messages on early childhood Data are available to assess whether ECE professionals development, such as on the topics of developmental comply with established pre-service training standards milestones, approaches to promote positive parenting, and professional qualifications. According to the and early stimulation activities for young children. Education Statistics Digest 2012, there are 321 ECE teachers in Samoa. Of which, 241 have obtained There are established infrastructure and service delivery certificates from the NCECES, and the remaining 80 staff standards for ECCE facilities. The Education Act 2009 are categorized as helpers with no certificate. outlines the requirements for operating an ECCE center. According to the act, the following criteria are required: . provision of curriculum that meets national curriculum ECCE facilities are required to comply with established guidelines for ECE; provision of an adequate building service delivery, infrastructure, and registration and appropriate facilities and equipment for young standards, however data are incomplete. There are 104 children (covers all aspects of structural soundness, ECCE centers in Samoa. According the UNESCO World including access to hygienic facilities and potable Data on Education 2011 report, the number of ECE water); provision of adequate furniture, educational centers registered with the NCECES has declined in play equipment and materials; employment of sufficient recent years due to a lack of compliance. The average appropriately qualified and experienced staff; and, child to teacher ratio is 12, however there is large existence of an adequate management system. ECCE variance by center, with this rate being as high as 25 in centers operate 4-5 days per week for an average of 3 some centers. No data are available to ensure that hours per day. The suggested child to teacher ratio is centers operate for at least 15 hours per week. 15:1. Policy Options to Monitor and Assure ECD According to these regulations, ongoing inspections are Quality in Samoa conducted to ensure compliance. Furthermore, the Minister reserves the right to inspect any center and  Data Availability – High quality data are required their discretion and to close the center if it is found not to inform rational and effective policy making. The to comply with the above noted requirements. current level of data availability in Samoa is very low. The GoS should consider various avenues to There are rigorous construction standards for all health address this area. First, the Government could facilities. According to the National Planning and Urban consider participating in international surveys, Management Authority Act 2006, similar to education such as UNICEF’s Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey facilities, all health facilities (including health posts, which would strengthen knowledge about the health centers, and hospitals) must be built and status of ECD, especially in health and nutrition maintained subject to rigorous construction standards sectors. Furthermore, the Government could that include all aspects of the building and access to consider expanding the education and health potable water and hygienic facilities. information systems to include a particular focus on access and outcomes in the ECD sector. It would be beneficial to be able to disaggregate this data by special interest group in order to fully SYSTEMS APPROACH FOR BETTER EDUCATION RESULTS 19 SAMOA ǀ EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT SABER COUNTRY REPORT |2013 evaluate the breadth of the ECD system and child to teacher ratios. If a class is too large the focus identify areas for improvement and special groups of the ECE professional shifts from education to care that are underserved. Lastly, in conjunction with a and management of the classroom environment. shift to a more holistic ECD system, the GoS could Expansion of facilities and more ECE professionals are move towards the development of an individual required. child tracking system across the different sectors in order to measure a child’s overall ECD outcomes Comparing Official Policies with Outcomes and respond accordingly with specific services as required. Table 9 compares select policies which affect ECD with related outcomes in the Samoa. The GoS has policies and  Quality Standards and Compliance – In recent years laws promoting exclusive breastfeeding and birth Samoa has taken measures to strengthen the registration, however the implementation remains low. standards governing ECD sectors and develop The GoS is reviewing the National Food Standards Bill capacity to ensure compliance. However, this is which will include mandatory iodization of salt. In order to significantly easier to achieve when coverage is low. ensure this bill is effective, the GoS should advance data As the number of ECCE centers expand, the NCECES collection to include this indicator and therefore provide a will need to be very proactive to ensure that all new metric on implementation. Lastly, preprimary education is and existing center meet standards or else the quality not compulsory in Samoa and there is no public provision. of ECE will decrease. In addition, actions should be Not surprisingly, enrollment is very low as a result. taken to address the schools that have high Table 9: Comparing ECD policies to outcome ECD Policies Outcomes Nutrition Rate of exclusive breastfeeding until  National laws encourage breastfeeding the age of 6 months 51%  National Food Standards Bill is being Percentage of households consuming designed and will mandate salt iodization iodized salt: data not available Child Protection  National policy mandates the registration of Birth registration rate: 48% children at birth Education Enrollment: 38%  Preprimary education is not compulsory SYSTEMS APPROACH FOR BETTER EDUCATION RESULTS 20 SAMOA ǀ EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT SABER COUNTRY REPORT |2013 Table 10: Comparing ECD policies to outcomes in the Samoa and select countries Samoa Tonga Vanuatu Immunizations National Immunization Policy mandates a complete course of Yes Yes Yes childhood immunizations Children immunized with DPT 87% 91% 68% (1 year old) Breastfeeding National Food and Nutrition Compliance, Code of Marketing of Policy encourages Policy encourages National Breast milk Policy Breast Milk Substitutes breastfeeding breastfeeding Exclusive Breastfeeding (6 Months) 51% 62% 40% Preprimary Education Not compulsory; 100% non- Preprimary School Policy Not compulsory Not compulsory public provision Preprimary School Enrollment Rate 38% 33% 59% Birth Registration Birth Registration Policy Mandated Mandated Mandated Birth Registration Rate 48% 98% 26% Table 10 compares ECD policies to outcomes in Samoa, Preliminary Benchmarking and International Tonga, and Vanuatu. The existence of laws and policies alone do not guarantee a strong correlation with Comparison of ECD in Samoa desired ECD outcomes. In many countries, a disconnect Table 11 presents the findings from the SABER-ECD exists between policies on paper and the reality of assessment of ECD policy in Samoa. The country has an access and service delivery on the ground. For example, emerging Legal Framework, highlighted by strong each of the countries presented has a law mandating national laws and regulations that promote healthcare immunizations, and in Samoa and Tonga the rate is high for pregnant women and young children. The Legal or nearly universal. However, in Vanuatu, the rate is Framework is less development in the education and only 68 percent. A similar disconnect exists for the rate nutrition sectors. Coordination is classified as emerging. of birth registration. Each of the three countries There is no multi-sectorial ECD strategy or institutional mandate birth registration, however only Tonga has anchor to coordinate ECD activities across sectors, achieved near universal implementation, where as the however there are mechanisms to promote collaboration rates are 48 percent and 26 percent in Samoa and between state and non-state stakeholders. Finance is Vanuatu, respectively. All three of the countries have classified as emerging as further investment is required also taken measures that encourage breastfeeding. The to achieve higher coverage and improve quality. Scope of rates of exclusive breastfeeding until six months vary Programs is emerging. Interventions target all groups of from 40 percent to 62 percent. None of the three stakeholders; however availability of interventions is low countries mandates compulsory preschool education in education. Both Coverage and Equity are emerging. and enrollment is low across the region. Data Availability is poor and classified as latent. Monitoring and Assuring Quality are classified as SYSTEMS APPROACH FOR BETTER EDUCATION RESULTS 21 SAMOA ǀ EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT SABER COUNTRY REPORT |2013 established. Table 12 presents the preliminary regional development on most policy levers in Samoa is and international comparison. On the one end of the comparable to other countries in the region, with the spectrum, Sweden is the gold standard for ECD systems main exception being that Samoa has superior standards and achieves “advanced” for all policy levers. The level of and compliance mechanisms. Table 11: Benchmarking Early Childhood Development Policy in Samoa Level of Level of ECD Policy Goal Policy Lever Development Development Legal Framework Establishing an Enabling Inter-sectoral Coordination Environment Finance Scope of Programs Implementing Widely Coverage Equity Data Availability Monitoring and Assuring Quality Standards Quality Compliance with Standards Latent Emerging Established Advanced Legend: Table 12: International Classification and Comparison of ECD Systems Level of Development ECD Policy Goal Policy Lever Samoa Australia Chile Tonga Turkey Vanuatu Legal Framework Establishing an Enabling Coordination Environment Finance Scope of Programs Implementing Coverage Widely Equity Data Availability Monitoring and Quality Standards Assuring Quality Compliance with Standards Latent Emerging Established Advanced Legend: SYSTEMS APPROACH FOR BETTER EDUCATION RESULTS 22 SAMOA ǀ EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT SABER COUNTRY REPORT |2013 Conclusion National Food Standards Bill and the greater role of early childhood care and education within the education The SABER-ECD initiative is designed to enable ECD policy strategy. However, the ECD system remains largely makers and development partners to identify disjointed. There is no unifying ECD policy, nor is there a opportunities for further development of effective ECD lead sector tasked with convening and coordinating ECD systems. The SABER-ECD classification system does not interventions. Substantial resources and efforts are rank countries according to any overall scoring; rather, it is required to improve the availability of services. The most intended to share information on how different ECD glaring issue is the absence of administrative and survey systems address the same policy challenges. This Country data. Data are critical to build and maintain a robust ECD Report presents a framework to benchmark the Samoa’s system and is required to inform strong policy. ECD system; each of the nine policy levers are examined in detail and some policy options are recommended. Table 13 below summarizes many of the discussion points and policy options that have been identified through this In recent years, ECD has gained increased attention and analysis. prominence in Samoa, as is evident through the draft Table 13: Summary of policy options to improve ECD in Samoa Policy Policy Options and Recommendations Dimension • Ensure that the National Food Standards Bill is approved and implemented • Modify maternity leave policy to provide flexibility to parents and ensure adequate financial support during early stages of a child’s development Establishing an • Consider development of a National ECD Strategy development, with contributions from all Enabling relevant Government and non-government stakeholders Environment • Appoint a lead agency to convene and coordinate ECD activities • Develop methodology to effectively measure and track financial investments in ECD • Consider increasing financial commitment to ECD system, with particular focus on supporting equitable access to early childhood care and education services • Undertake stocktaking exercise to document and map existing interventions • Reach children 0 to 3 with multi-sectoral services and reach their parents with education messages Implementing • Strengthen and empower NGOs’ ability to provide services in Samoa Widely • Increase coverage of preschool education by supporting development and promotion of new facilities • Eliminate inequity in access to interventions in all sectors by increasing service provision and targeting children from lower socioeconomic families and rural locations • Consider participating in international survey, such as UNICEF’s Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey stocktaking exercise to document and map existing interventions • Expand the education and health information systems to include a particular focus on access and outcomes in the ECD sector • Disaggregate data by special interest group in order to fully evaluate the breadth of the ECD Monitoring and system and identify areas for improvement and special groups that are underserved Assuring Quality • In conjunction with a shift to a more holistic ECD system, move towards development of an individual child tracking system across the different sectors in order to measure a child’s overall development in the four interrelated domains • In response to low coverage, develop capacity in all sectors to ensure quality in light of need increases in access SYSTEMS APPROACH FOR BETTER EDUCATION RESULTS 23 SAMOA ǀ EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT SABER COUNTRY REPORT |2013 Acknowledgements This Country Report was prepared by the SABER-ECD team at World Bank headquarters in Washington, DC. The report presents country data collected using the SABER-ECD policy and program data collection instruments and data from external sources. The report was prepared in consultation with the World Bank Human Development EAP team and the Government of Samoa. For technical questions or comments about this report, please contact the SABER-ECD team (helpdeskecd@worldbank.org). SYSTEMS APPROACH FOR BETTER EDUCATION RESULTS 24 SAMOA ǀ EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT SABER COUNTRY REPORT |2013 www.worldbank.org/education/saber The Systems Approach for Better Education Results (SABER) initiative produces comparative data and knowledge on education policies and institutions, with the aim of helping countries systematically strengthen their education systems. SABER evaluates the quality of education policies against evidence-based global standards, using new diagnostic tools and detailed policy data. The SABER country reports give all parties with a stake in educational results—from administrators, teachers, and parents to policymakers and business people—an accessible, objective snapshot showing how well the policies of their country's education system are oriented toward ensuring that all children and youth learn. This report focuses specifically on policies in the area of Early Childhood Development. This work is a product of the staff of The World Bank with external contributions. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this work do not necessarily reflect the views of The World Bank, its Board of Executive Directors, or the governments they represent. The World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this work. The boundaries, colors, denominations, and other information shown on any map in this work do not imply any judgment on the part of The World Bank concerning the legal status of any territory or the endorsement or acceptance of such boundaries. THE WORLD BANK SYSTEMS APPROACH FOR BETTER EDUCATION RESULTS 25