Samoa ratified the Salamanca Statement in 1994. The Samoan Government therefore strongly supports programmes for the inclusion of disabled children in schools. The government sponsors all trainees who wish to take up teaching as a career. The National University of Samoa's Faculty of Education offers three programmes for these trainees: general education, special needs education, and early childhood education. The aim is to ensure that equal opportunities are provided for all children to access a balanced education system, taught by well-qualified teachers. With Samoa's involvement in UNESCO activities and international conventions, the country now has a platform for action to push for these developments.