Global influences on curriculum in Samoa: the case of Business Studies.

Abstract

Globalization has become a strong force in all aspects of our lives. While it is now embedded in the economics, politics and culture of developed countries, developing countries such as the small island nations of the Pacific are no less immune. This article examines the development and implementation of the Business Studies curriculum in Samoa, through the lens of globalization. A small-scale study investigates how teachers implemented the new Business Studies curriculum – what helped and what hindered. A qualitative case study approach was used to collect data from two secondary schools. The findings show that the confidence and competence of teachers, originating from their initial academic disciplines, impact on the ways in which they use curriculum materials and teach the subject. The article concludes with recommendations, such as the need for more professional development and in-school support to improve curriculum delivery in order to bring Business Studies education to a level that supports economic growth in Samoa and enables the nation take its place in the globalised world of the future.