December 1 2025 – NUS GYM, PAPA-I-GALAGALA
The Government of Samoa, through the Ministry of Commerce Industry and Labor (MCIL) and its key partners, celebrated a significant milestone today with the graduation of seventy-three (73) individuals from the newly reformed Samoa Apprenticeship Program. This achievement stems from the embedding initiatives led jointly by MCIL, the Samoa Qualification Authority (SQA), and the National University of Samoa (NUS).
In his keynote address, Afioga Fata Ryan Schuster, Minister of MCIL, emphasized the crucial role of skilled tradespersons, stating: “Pursuing a career in the trades is vital; qualified tradespersons are the backbone of our community’s development.”
Followed by the apprenticeship program’s overview presented by the Acting CEO of MCIL, Afioga Hermine Raeli- McCarthy.
This reformed program is a three-year program comprising Level III and Level IV qualifications, which integrates two key components of On-the-Job Training/Workplace Assessment and the Off-the-job Training.
While the old structure covered seven trades, the current program now offers six accredited trades. After three years since the implementation of the 2022 Apprenticeship reformulation, this is a qualification that is now recognized internationally especially in Australia and New Zealand.
A total of fifty-three (53) apprentices graduated with a Samoa Apprenticeship Certificate IV and forty-four (44) apprentices awarded a Samoa Certificate III. In the Trade Testing Scheme, thirty-four (34) graduates received a Trade Test Certificate in Grade 2 and twenty-nine (29) graduated with a Grade 1 certificate.
MCIL looks forward to welcoming more apprentices into the program in the upcoming calendar year, continuing to strengthen skills development and support Samoa’s national workforce.
CONGRATULATIONS to all the graduate Apprentices on this significant achievement.
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