American Samoa

by Paul Bacsich for Re.ViCa

For entities in American Samoa see Category:American Samoa

American Samoa (Samoan: Amerika Sāmoa or Sāmoa Amelika) is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of the sovereign state of Samoa (formerly known as Western Samoa). It is the southernmost territory of the United States.

The main (largest and most populous) island is Tutuila, with the Manuʻa Islands, Swains Island and Rose Atoll (an uninhabited wildlife refuge) also included in the territory. American Samoa is part of the Samoan Islands chain, located west of the Cook Islands, north of Tonga, and some 300 miles (500 km) south of Tokelau. To the west are the islands of the Wallis and Futuna group.

The population is around 57,000 (2000 census) of which 95% live on Tutuila. The total land area is 200.22 km2 (77 sq mi), slightly more than Washington, DC.

American Samoa is administratively divided into three districts and two "unorganized" atolls. The districts and unorganized atolls are subdivided into 74 villages. Pago Pago - the capital of American Samoa - is one of the largest villages and is located on the eastern side of Tutuila island in Ma'oputasi County district #9. Fagatogo is listed in the Constitution of American Samoa as the official seat of government, but it is not the capital.

The Manuʻa Islands now contain only a few percent of the population of American Samoa, whereas in the the 1930s some 20% of the population of American Samoa lived in the Manuʻa Islands - but even by the 1980s, only 6% were located there. Emigration is the consequence of a lack of economic opportunities and a desire of young people to participate in the more modern lifestyle offered on Tutuila.

Swains Island is claimed by supporters of independence for Tokelau as part of that country. Swains Islanders and Tokelauans enjoy linguistic and cultural affinities - Tokelauans refer to Swains as Olohega. The American and New Zealand governments are not inclined to pursue any change of territorial status of the Swains Island. However, the existence of a clause in a draft independence treaty espoused by Tokelauan nationalists is a matter which could be a potential issue longer-term. The island is owned by one family and used as a copra plantation, with a population of 37 Tokelauans, thus in the view of some analysts the issue is more symbolic than having a material impact on the economy of American Samoa - or the educational aspects (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swains_Island).

As noted above, Rose Atoll is an uninhabited wildlife refuge.

Employment on Tutuila falls into three relatively equal-sized categories of approximately 5,000 workers each: the public sector, the single tuna cannery (there used to be several), and the rest of the private sector.

Over 91% of the population are native Samoans - about the same percentage speak Samoan (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages), with most people being bilingual.

American Samoa is largely Christian (50% Christian Congregationalist, 20% Roman Catholic, 30% Protestant and other).

Education in American Samoa

Education is provided under the supervision of the American Samoa Department of Education. There are over 14,150 students in grades K-12, early childhood education and special education programs.

The main island contains 23 primary schools and six secondary schools, all of which are operated by the American Samoa Department of Education (http://www.doe.as). On the Manuʻa islands there is one school, on Taʻū.

Overall, there are also 24 early childhood education centres.

Subject standards are available at http://www.doe.as/index_files/instructionalsupport_serv/ocia/index.htm (note that there is not a standard for ICT).

Higher education in American Samoa

Tertiary education is provided at American Samoa Community College, based on the main island Tutuila. The College was established in 1970 to provide post-secondary education opportunities in the liberal arts, teacher training, vocational-technical education and general education to the residents of American Samoa. It offers Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees, as well as Certificate programs in a variety of academic and technical areas. It also offers a wide range of community services.

The College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Community and Junior Colleges and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

The College is located on Tutuila - in the village of Mapusaga, nine miles west of Pago Pago, the territory's centre of trade and commerce. In July of 1970, the College was established, initially as part of the American Samoa Department of Education. The move to a permanent campus was made in September 1974, when ASCC took over the site of the former Mapusaga High School. In 1979, a grant from the US Economic Development Administration enabled the College to complete five new buildings, with modern facilities for instruction in science, nursing, fine arts and vocational education, as well as a student cafeteria and a gymnasium. In 2003, dedication ceremonies were held for a new, state of the art library.

Its web site is at http://www.amsamoa.edu - note that it runs Moodle and there is a useful technical support page at http://www.amsamoa.edu/support.htm

Most students on Manuʻa seeking higher education go to American Samoa Community College - a few go to the National University of Samoa on ʻUpolu in Western Samoa, or as far away as the University of Hawaiʻi and elsewhere.

References

1. Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Samoa
2. American Samoa Department of Education, http://www.doe.as/

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