Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga has instructed the Director of Education, Vaitinasa Salu Hunkin Finau to collaborate with the Director of Human Resources, Sonny L Thompson for the employment process to hire teachers from Samoa for the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) courses.

According to a letter sent by Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga, dated June 24, 2014, to the DOE Director, he applauded her efforts to secure teachers, however pointed out that the ASG recruitment process must be adhered to for the possible new hires.

The governor’s letter thanks Vaitinasa for her “aggressively advancing the attainment of our vision to improve the quality of instruction rendered to our children especially in the STEM subjects, to enhance their individual capacities to enter medical and other technical professions.” He went on to say that he applauds her efforts to secure teachers in the STEM domains from Samoa.

However, he said, notwithstanding, recruitment must be conducted compliant with the prevailing Human Resources statutes of the American Samoa Government.

Lolo said “accordingly the Director of Human Resources must be intrinsically involved in the process to ensure that the salaries offered are aligned with and sensitive to others who are currently teaching the same subjects.” The governor pointed out that “we must exhaust all avenues to attract and utilize American Samoans having the qualifications to teach STEM subjects.”

He further stated that he has issued Executive Directives requiring all qualification paperwork to be fully completed before the person is placed on the job. Lolo asked Vaitinasa to “please collaborate with the HR Director to ensure his involvement in the recruitment and employment process.”

Lolo said that without a fully executed contract bearing the signature of the Director of the Department of Human Resources, the Immigration office cannot allow the entry of these individuals into the territory.

Copies of the letter were sent to Lt. Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga, the HR Director, Attorney General Talauega Eleasalo Ale and Chief of Staff Fiu Johnny Saelua.

It’s unclear as to why the Governor has sent this letter in the first place, as questions sent to Vaitinasa and Thompson were not answered as of press time.