Despite a plea from Lt Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga to Director of Education Vaitinasa Salu Hunkin Finau to reconsider her decision to remove Samoana High School Principal Mataese Samuelu one week before school starts, SHS now has a new school principal.

Samoa News understands that Samuelu is challenging the decision to remove him from SHS. The new principal Talosia Upuresa, was appointed by the DOE Director to start on Monday last week, however when she went to the school, she discovered Samuelu has remained at the school.

In a letter to the DOE director (leaked to Samoa News), Lemanu pointed out that as DOE moves forward in preparing for the new school year “we have learned more about our infrastructure and personnel in regards to our efforts.” Lemanu says that he wanted to meet with the DOE Director on this issue, however, other urgent needs and pressing matters have disallowed that.

“I have recently learned of the situation at Samoana High School where you might be considering making administrative changes and reassignment of the principal. I believe a change to the principal just one week before school starts will no doubt cause disruption and possibly a chain reaction among the faculty and staff, and such action can negatively impact the students who will be returning to school.

“It is my recommendation therefore that you keep the current principal in place as the school begins to maintain consistency until such time in the future when it is more appropriate,” Lemanu said in his letter, adding that “if there are exigent or imperative reasons that would justify such a change, I would appreciate being briefed on the matter.”

A parent from SHS, and a member of their Parent Teacher Association (PTA), Mrs. Sharmain Mageo (whose husband is a teacher at SHS) wrote to Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga and his Executive Assistant, Iulogologo Joseph Pereira seeking their attention on this issue.

Mageo noted that she was unclear if the Governor “is aware of the drama that is going on between DOE and the principal of Samoana High School, where he refuses to follow instructions, after the DOE Director ordered that Mataese be removed as SHS Principal at the end of summer. The parent claims that “Samuelu refused to leave”, (although) his formal notification from DOE informed him that last Friday (last week) was his last day at Samoana.

Mageo also notes that Samuelu is undermining the authority of the new principal who was appointed to the school, Mrs Talosia Uperesa, “with the support staff at the SHS office,” as well as undermining DOE authority.

The parent further notes that Samuelu has sought assistance from the Lt Governor and is now telling everybody that he is to remain the principal of SHS.

“I am sorry Mr. Pereira, but this man, despite his Masters in Education … has not performed as a principal should, from not being visible on campus, clocking in and going home, and not being involved in the recent accreditation of the school.”

Mageo said she was “involved with hosting meals for the accreditation team and honestly saw nothing of this man on campus” during the accreditation visit.

“I know the Governor doesn't want to send out the wrong message to our people with regards to authority. [Yet] here we are in the beginning of the school year and all the teachers at SHS are confused.

“Mr. Samuelu is strutting around the campus waving a letter from the Lt Governor informing everyone that DOE can't touch him. The easy part of getting the accreditation for the school is over, the hard part is putting the plan into action. How does a principal who was never involved, never turned up to meetings, never answered any of the WASC team's questions hope to accomplish this?” Mageo wrote.

She further noted, “I speak as a parent with a child who is at the school, to please ask the Lt Governor to gather all the facts first, ask the teachers, ask the PTA, nobody is supporting his staying… my husband, and all the teachers are proud of their school and their accreditation and we don't want to see this effort go down the drain under his leadership.”

Samoa News reached out to Mataese Samuelu, who has declined to comment on the matter.

OTHER AS-DOE NEWS

In the aforementioned letter, Lemanu also brought to the DOE director’s attention that “(Ret) LTC Mapu Jamaias has not been paid for the past six weeks and his expired contract has not been renewed.

Lemanu wrote, “he has requested my assistance in understanding the reasons for the holdup. Please provide me with an update on the situation and let me know if there are any reasons, legal or otherwise for withholding his compensation and not renewing his contract.”

Mapu Jamaias is among the candidates running for Congress in this year’s general election, and held his official Kick Off this past weekend at Maliu Mai Resort. (See story elsewhere in today’s newspaper.)