Samoa College

Samoa College is a secondary school in Samoa officially opened in 1953.^[1] It is co-educational and teaches from years 9 to 13. It is in Apia on the island of Upolu and is considered the main college in the country. The early college and curriculum was modeled on secondary schools in New Zealand, reflecting the country's colonial history.

Education in Samoa is overseen by the government's Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture.

History

Boys playing football

The college was officially opened on 2 October 1953 by Charles E Beeby, the New Zealand Minister of Education. Samoa's education system is historically associated with New Zealand.^[2]

Before the official opening of Samoa College, a system of 'accelerated' learning was developed in 1949 for selected pupils with top marks in exams from around the country. These pupils would make up the core of the new college. The accelerated pupils went to school at a fale in Malifa,^[1] near the capital Apia and later moved to the new school once it was opened.

Former students include writer Albert Wendt who became the school principal 1969 to 1973. His tenure saw the broadening of the curriculum to include arts subjects.

Alumni

Eti Saaga (1970), Samoan poet^[3]
Le Mamea Ropati, politician
Sapa'u Ruperake Petaia, poet
Steffi Carruthers, tennis player
Jeya Wilson, political activist and NGO leader^[4]

References

^ ^a ^b Meleisea, Malama (1987). Lagaga: a short history of Western Samoa. University of the South Pacific. p. 210. ISBN 978-982-02-0029-6. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
^ Campbell, Craig; Geoffrey Sherington (2007). Going to school in Oceania. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 310. ISBN 978-0-313-33950-9. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
^ "Eti Sa'aga - Libraries Australia Authorities". National Library of Australia. Archived from the original on 2018-01-01. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
^ Hayes, Matt (2019-08-07). "Meet the Kiwi who rubbed shoulders with Lange and Boris at the Oxford Union". The Spinoff. Retrieved 2024-09-19.

External links

13°50′56″S 171°44′56″W / 13.849°S 171.749°W / -13.849; -171.749

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[malama-1] Meleisea, Malama (1987). Lagaga: a short history of Western Samoa. University of the South Pacific. p. 210. ISBN 978-982-02-0029-6. Retrieved 25 July 2010.

[2] Campbell, Craig; Geoffrey Sherington (2007). Going to school in Oceania. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 310. ISBN 978-0-313-33950-9. Retrieved 25 July 2010.

[libaus-3] "Eti Sa'aga - Libraries Australia Authorities". National Library of Australia. Archived from the original on 2018-01-01. Retrieved 2018-01-01.

[:2-4] Hayes, Matt (2019-08-07). "Meet the Kiwi who rubbed shoulders with Lange and Boris at the Oxford Union". The Spinoff. Retrieved 2024-09-19.

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