P.M. pays tribute to a pioneer, leader

Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, yesterday paid tribute to a scholar, historian and a pioneer, Aiono Dr. Fana’afi Le Tagaloa.

Tuilaepa told the media during his weekly media session that he had been informed about Aiono’s passing away yesterday.

Attempts to get a comment from the family last night were unsuccessful.

But Tuilaepa said the news about Aiono’s passing away came as a shock. Tuilaepa extended his condolences to Aiono’s husband, Le Tagaloa Pita, and their children.

In acknowledging her contribution to education in Samoa, Tuilaepa spoke highly of Aiono.

“Aiono had set many records for Samoa,” he said.

One of them was becoming the first Samoan to hold a PhD.

“She was also pioneer in many areas, especially in the area of gender balance and gender equality.”

Tuilaepa said Aiono inspired a generation of leaders who will go on to continue her legacy.

He also acknowledged Aiono as a former Member of Parliament and a former Director of Education.

“She is someone who is known for her involvement in promoting education for the children of Samoa.”

Born on 25 June 1932, Aiono* is an authority on Samoan culture and language.

She is one of the most educated female matai in the country with a PhD in educational philosophy and applied linguistics from the University of London.

Aiono has been instrumental in formulating and implementing bi-cultural and bi-lingual education in Samoa, in particular, during her tenure as Director of Education for the government as the country moved from colonial rule to political independence in the early 1960s.

She has held other senior positions in education in Samoa, including Professor of Samoan Studies at the National University of Samoa and principal of Samoa Teacher's College.

Her distinguished career includes politics and she is a former Member of Parliament, having first entered parliament at the 1985 general election under the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP).

In 1997, she founded the Indigenous University of Samoa (Le Iunivesite o le Amosa o Savavau). The university curriculum is taught in the Samoan language with qualifications in Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees.

She has published extensively about Samoan history, land rights, fa'amatai chiefly governance and fa'a Samoa socio-political issues, as well as the role of women and children in the Pacific Islands.

Her scholarly work and publications have been widely read and cited.

Aiono attended Malifa Primary before she went to attend intermediate and grammar schools in New Zealand. She later attended Ardmore Teachers' College in Auckland where she graduated in 1954.

She completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1957. Her Master of Arts degree was completed at Victoria University of Wellington.

Her Master's thesis was titled The Pattern of Education and the Factors Influencing that Development in the New Zealand Dependencies in the Pacific.

Her outstanding academic achievements in New Zealand earned her the prestigious MacKintosh Travelling Scholarship, becoming the first Pacific Islander to do so.

The scholarship allowed her to study for her doctorate at the University of London, which she completed in 1960. Her doctoral dessertation was titled Bilingualism and its Socio-Economic and Philosophical Implications in a Society Forced to be Bilingual.

After completing her PhD in London, Aiono lectured at Victoria University in New Zealand for 4 years.

In 1965, she became the Principal of Samoa Teachers' College. She briefly held the position of Deputy Director of Education for the Samoan government before her appointment as Director, a position she held from December, 1968 until March, 1975.

From 1976 to 1981, she worked in the same role for the Congregational Christian Church in Samoa.

From 1982 - 1985, she was Vice Chancellor of the University of Samoa.

*Information obtained from wikipedia