Educators and professionals across Samoa are calling for stronger links between education and workforce development, emphasising the need to equip young people with practical skills, workplace experience, and adaptability to meet the demands of a changing job market.
Senior Fisheries Officer Catherine Sinclair WooChing highlighted communication as one of the most significant challenges in today's workplaces. While many organisations provide internal training opportunities, she noted that frequent leadership changes can create communication gaps and inconsistencies.
"One of the most lacking skills in my workplace is communication," WooChing said. "While academic qualifications are important, employers also highly value skills such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, time management, professionalism, and the ability to learn quickly."
WooChing said Samoa's education system plays a vital role in preparing young people for employment and national development. However, she believes there is room for improvement in aligning education and training with workforce demands.
"There is still a need to strengthen practical skills and improve the connection between education and workforce demands," she said. "Greater emphasis on vocational training, digital skills, entrepreneurship, communication skills, and workplace experience can better prepare students for evolving employment opportunities."
