Constraints in the Teaching of Mathematics in Samoa
by
Vavatau Taufao
National University of Samoa

The existence of many constraints in the teaching of mathematics is a reality that faces both students and teachers everywhere. The Department of Mathematics and Statistics of the National University of Samoa is now engaging itself to find ways, methods and approaches to address the problems. Our hope is to minimize the constraints and to make mathematics more meaningful in the Samoan context not only at the University level but the lower levels. This is particularly important for the pre-service teacher education program which prepares future teachers for both primary and secondary level. This paper will describe some of these constraints in teaching Mathematics for a Samoan. It will also describe some of our attempts in our endeavor to improve the Mathematics training in our region.

Date received: May 13, 1998