PM Clarifies $32M Funding for Back-to-School Scheme

By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, SAMOA – 29 January 2026 – Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt has clarified where the $32 million allocated for the back- to-school scheme came from at todays press conference.

The Prime Minister announced the $32m back to school assistance at the Teachers Annual Conference on Monday this week.

Laauli said the $32m now allocated for the back-to-school scheme is from the $1.8m allocated for each district under the District Development Project and is included in the 2025/2026 Budget.

He said the decision to utilise the $1.8m for the back-to-school scheme was not easy but because the funds had to be used before the end of the financial year in June, Cabinet decided to use it as an emergency scheme to assist families with the start of another school year.

Its four more months before June when the new budget will be tabled and the $2m for the district’s development project will be allocated.

Cabinet then decided to lay out an emergency action plan for the fund to parents with preparations such as uniforms and school fees for the new school year.

Cabinet decided to distribute the fund equally so everyone of Samoa’s 200,100 population will receive $150 each.

The estimation was based on the biggest constituency with 11,000 residents and for smaller constituencies, the balance of their $1.8m allocation will used for what their District Development Councils can identify to utilize the remaining funds within the current financial year.

“Cabinet decided to align all district development projects together with the back-to-school scheme hence the allocation now in place,” he said.

The Prime Minister also explained that projects under the 2026/2027 Budget with a $2m allocation under the District Development Project, will include compulsory projects targeting increased agricultural production for food security and export substitution.

END