Education
Over 17,800 Receive Back-to-School Packages in Samoa
By Jeannie Penehuro/
11 March 2026 – As of today, the Samoa Ministry of Women, Community, and Social Development reports significant progress in the distribution of Back-to-School Packages aimed at supporting children returning to school this year.
Since the initiative launched on February 28th, a total of 17,852 citizens have successfully received their packages, providing vital assistance to students and their families across the island.
The program, which offers a $150 Back-to-School Package to every Samoan citizen, has seen substantial engagement from the community.
A key milestone is that 26 out of the 51 districts in Samoa are now actively distributing the packages, with the remaining 25 districts still in the process of submitting their records through the current WebApp registration system.
According to the Ministry, over 17,800 individuals have registered through their Districts Fono Fa’avae, ensuring that those eligible can access the financial support needed for a smooth return to the classroom.
To date, more than $2.6 million has been disbursed to families, providing critical resources to help children start the new school year with the necessary supplies.
The Ministry continues to encourage all districts to complete their submissions promptly, emphasizing the government’s commitment to supporting educational access and community well-being.
This initiative is funded by $1.8m as the final payment for the first five years of the $1m per district of the District Development Project which ends in June 2026.
The Government decided to distribute the money at $150 per head so the funds could be expended in time before the next budget clicks over in July 2026 which will increase the funding to $2M tala per 51 districts annually.