Ads by Google Ads by Google

Samoa Briefs

The Samoa government is renewing its efforts to promote the Samoan language.  It is doing this through a proposal for a bilingual curriculum in schools and plans to teach Samoan in schools from Year 1 to 13.

Minister of Education, Sports and Culture, Magele Mauiliu Megele highlighted the importance of Samoan being used in schools during the 2011 BlueSky SamoaTel short story competition prize giving, last week.

One of the major reforms being implemented by the Ministry of Education is the introduction of a New Bilingual Primary Curriculum. This is complemented by the development of a Bilingual Policy.

The policy not only focuses on the English language but also places emphasis on the Samoan language. "The new outcomes-based curriculum is student-oriented and contextualized to the changing needs of our students and society," Magele told the Samoa Observer.

"It clearly outlines the need for Samoan to be taught from Year One to Year 13 to ensure that our students retain and learn about the importance of our language and to master the basics from an early age."  He said being able to read and write in Samoan is a major contributing factor to success in all other subjects.

In fact Samoa may soon become an official language if a bill proposing this, is passed through Parliament this year.

SAMOA PROPERTY DEVELOPER LOSES $100,000

A property developer in Fugalei is a very unhappy man. Several years ago, he was one of many private business people who were encouraged by the Government to develop properties, to accommodate public and private offices.

Today, he is struggling to find new tenants for his two-story building that has just been vacated by a Government ministry, which had leased the entire place. The Ministry is one of several government offices that have relocated to Samoa's newest high-rise, the Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi building.

This has left the distressed property developer with an empty 6,000 square feet building to fill and growing mortgage bills to pay. The businessman refused to have his name published in the Samoa Observer because he is fearful of repercussions from the Government.

But his tenant's departure has cost him approximately $100,000 per annum, the Observer reported.

The Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi building is set to house ten Government ministries and corporations. The office of the Electric Power Corporation has relocated from the church-owned John Williams buildings and the Samoa Water Authority has also moved out of the Apia Business Machines building at Saleufi where they were previously housed.

PM HAILS VICTIM'S GROUP

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has praised the Samoa Victim Support Group for its work in the community. Speaking during the Golden Hearts Awards ceremony, at Tuana'imato, Friday night, Tuilaepa reminded that the door is opened to those who knock. 

"Don't give up seeking and requesting for assistance," he said. "The more often you approach people for help to develop your organization the more chances you have of being given what you are after."  Tuilaepa said. Friday night was an evening to raise funds to build an educational centre.

He donated $1,000 to cause. Head of State, Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi also donated $1,000. The event saw the contribution of many companies, financial institutions and individuals recognized.

WINNING ALL BLACKS VISIT SAMOA

At least six members of the world champion All Blacks team were in Samoa over the weekend. Kieran Reid, Ali Williams, Isaia Toeava, Keven Mealamu and Anthony Boric attended teammate, Jerome Kaino's wedding.

The wedding was a money-making deal worth thousands of dollars to Kaino who sold exclusive rights to photograph and cover the wedding to Woman's Day Magazine. Kaino married long-term partner, Diana Breslin.

The next All Black to get married is Ali Williams who is reportedly planning to tie the knot in Australia, next month.

(Source: Samoa Observer)

NEW GROUP TO COMPLEMENT REGIONAL LINE-UP

The newly formed Polynesian Leaders Group says it aims to complement other sub-groupings in the Pacific region.

Its eight founding members - Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau, American Samoa, Tuvalu and French Polynesia - signed a memorandum of understanding last week.

The group's chair, Samoa's prime minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, says this group can now discuss specific issues, like cultural heritage and economic development.

"We are a relatively new group, compared to our much older group by our colleagues in the Melanesian Spearhead and also the Micronesian Challenge. We see the development of our own close cohesion as one way forward for working together with the Micronesian and Spearhead to achieve the objectives of the Pacific Plan."

Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi says any country that falls within the Polynesia triangle can apply to become a member, but all decisions are subject to general consensus.

The group's secretariat will be based in Apia for the length of the chairmanship role, which will change every year.

(Source: Radio New Zealand)