Samoa College considers charter options

It would take millions to run the government-operated Samoa College as a private school.

That confirmation came from Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Education Sports and Culture, Matafeo Falanaipupu Dan Aiafi during an interview with the media last week.

Consultations are currently being carried out between M.E.S.C. and key stakeholders to discuss the future of the college being turned over to the Samoa College Old Pupils Association (S.C.O.P.A.) to manage.

His comments follow confirmation from the Chairman of S.C.O.P.A. Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi some weeks ago that plans are in place for the Association to take over the management of the school as a charter school.

A charter school is a school that receives public funding but operates independently of the established public school system it is located in. Charter schools are an example of alternative education.

Lealailepule was adamant if the plans go ahead and S.C.O.P.A. takes over the running of the college, there would be more resources available to the students to ensure that they receive the best learning tools required for their education.

However the millions the C.E.O. is referring to are just for one year’s operations.

“It’s quite an expensive task,” Matafeo stressed.

He emphasized that this amount of money would be needed in order to address teacher salaries, school assets and equipment, teaching materials and lesson materials and maintenance and other operational costs.

And he couldn’t confirm whether S.C.O.P.A. would be able to provide for this type of expensive investment. “I’m not really sure but S.C.O.P.A. would have to come up with a convincing business plan because this is quite an expensive task.” Aside from that, Matafeo believes that S.C.O.P.A. must keep in mind that they need to consider the sustainability of the school.

“You can’t just run the school for a year and then say, ‘Okay government you can have it back’.”

Instead, a long term plan is required to “make sure the quality of learning and teaching is there for the students,” he said.

But how did the idea come about?

According to Matafeo, the idea is part of reforms in the education system in Samoa.

They have been on-going for the past ten years or so. The idea is a decision by the Samoan government who has been considering the future of Samoa College. He also confirmed the other school with similar options is Avele College.

Matafeo however did not elaborate further about Avele College but instead focused his comments on Samoa College.

“We are conducting consultations to make sure stakeholders are involved in this process.”

The consultations started last year, he said.

When exactly that was, he did not say.

But he confirmed consultations will be finalized this year and they will put the decision taken through to Cabinet for final approval before confirming the future of the college.

Before consultations are over however, he claims that S.C.O.P.A. must also be able to show proven experience in running the college.

“That is the whole reason we are having consultations.” He said the role of government is to make sure that decision reached will be the best one for the future of Samoa and the students. The changeover will not just take place for the sake of S.C.O.P.A. or other parties.

Instead it would have to “solely focus on the future of our children”.

He said Samoa College was first set up during the time of colonial powers. It was an elite school with a different vision then.

The purpose was to develop students with academic backgrounds who would come back and develop Samoa when the colonial powers left. According to Wikipedia, it was in1953 that the school opened and it was modeled on New Zealand educational institutions with an examoriented curriculum.

The appointment of Felix Wendt as the first local principal of the school saw the curriculum broadened to include arts subjects.

“Back then, it worked because [students] sat exams to make sure they got into the best college at the time.

“Now our leaders are looking right across the whole nation because we can’t just focus on Samoa College.”

There are other schools [and] other children in Savaii and in rural areas, he pointed out.

“Hence the vision of government now, is to make sure there is equal distribution of resources and equity and access of children to all the schools in Samoa not just Samoa College.”

He said in the past years, Samoa College has always catered for the brightest students because of the exams they sat.

“Now [there’s a] different focus and I totally agree with government [because they are] on the right track for looking at students across the broad spectrum.”