Twenty-seven Colleges from Upolu and Savai’i had the chance to listen to Parliament procedures yesterday as part of the Parliamentary College Programme. 

The programme is organized by the Office of the Legislative Assembly and has been running for four years now.

It provides an opportunity for the students from the select colleges to interact with Parliament representatives so they can learn about the functions of Parliament. 

Moreover, the students had the chance to learn about their expected contributions to Parliamentary democracy.

The programme coincided with the Parliament sitting yesterday, and the students had the opportunity to listen to a few words of encouragement from the Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and the Speaker of the House, Leaupepe Toleafoa Fa’afisi. 

According to the Prime Minister, this is a great programme to nurture the future leaders of Samoa. 

“This programme creates awareness for our children on the different parliamentary committees and their functions. They are the future of Samoa, and this is a great way to prepare them for the future.”

 The Principal of the Le Amosā School, Fitimaula Donna Ioane, said that the programme is an effective way to educate our children about Parliamentary procedures. 

“The most important thing I know is for our children to know and understand their identity,” said Mrs. Ioane.

“To me, this is an opportunity for them to be aware of how our parliament works and the procedures in parliament. This can inspire them to become parliamentarians in the future.”

Mrs. Ioane said that this is their third year participating in this programme. 

Nothing has changed in the activities since the programme started, said Mrs. Ioane. 

“The difference for this year is the venue of where it is held.”

“But this is a very important programme for our children. You don’t learn this at school, but under this programme, our children are able to listen and observe the different ways of how parliament works. 

“This is a great awareness programme for them.”

For Moenani Yu-Hoi from A’ana Alofi No.2 College, she was thrilled to be part of the programme. 

“I am excited to be here for this particular programme,” she said.

The Year 12 student is an Art major and was grateful for the opportunity to learn more about Samoa’s Parliamentary system. 

“I’ve never been in parliament before and I know little about its functions and roles. But this programme creates awareness for us, the future leaders of Samoa, to know and understand about the roles of the different Parliamentary Committees and how parliament works.”

Moenani said she was also happy to be under the same roof with the Prime Minister of Samoa, and all the Cabinet Ministers. 

“It’s not every day that we get to see the Prime Minister face to face and the Cabinet Ministers who are in charge of making decisions for Samoa. But this is a great programme and I am grateful to the Office of the Legislative Assembly for giving the opportunity to learn and observe Parliamentary procedures of Samoa.”

Moenani said she aspires to be a politician in the future. 

For Teofilo Molio’o from the Le Amosā School, he said he was both nervous and excited to be part of the programme. 

Teofilo Molio’o was selected to represent Le Amosā School in the Speech Competition and he was nervous about it. 

However, he said that he was there to learn as much as he can from the programme. 

“As a Science student, I don’t know much about how parliament works and so this is an opportunity for me to learn about their functions and roles.

“So I am grateful for this opportunity and I will use it wisely.”

There were also speech competitions on various parliamentary issues as part of the programme. 

The final for the speech competition is being held today at 11am followed by the prizegiving.