It wasn’t roasted breadfruit; it was roasted ripe bananas and pe’epe’e (coconut juice).

On fact checking last week’s ‘TAKE’, I found that the decision for the next step in the development of education was marked by a meal of roasted ripe bananas, pe’epe’e (coconut juice) and other goods; not roasted breadfruit, as I had it last week.

With independence certain, there was a desperate need for Samoans to take over positions then held by overseas officers.

Steps had already been taken to educate local public servants by sending the senior ones overseas under the Crash Program for more experience in their fields.

A scholarship scheme to New Zealand was also in place but the low level of local education had to be raised; hence the setting up of the Accelerate School in Malifa, for the primary level in 1949.  

The brightest students from the Grade Two schools in the villages were selected by national examinations and put in this school which, by its name, was for accelerated education.

So the primary level was taken care of and the next question was: where do these students go after the Accelerate School?

That was the topic of the discussion by the two Fautua, Tupua Tamasese Meaole and Malietoa Tanumafili 11 at Vaivase-tai where Samoa College now stands.

According to the book SAMOA COLLEGE 50 years of service to Samoa (the Book), the two leaders had already decided that there would be a school at the college level. They had also decided on the school’s location, Vaivase, and were there at the site to decide on where the buildings for the school were to be built.

The Book says Malietoa had recalled the discussion (translated) as follows: Because of the heat of the sun we (Tamasese and I)  rested in the shade and discussed the development of schools.

It is known that the State of Samoa will be founded but the country’s heritage will not be protected if schools are not good. This is the way to find our farmers and good teachers; we’ll have lawyers and doctors, the road maker and the plumber. It is the same way that will enable Samoa to carry its responsibilities in relations with Europeans. A firm base has to be set so that Samoa’s heritage will never be taken away again. Samoa College is one milestone in the establishment of Samoa’s heritage.

In a foreword to the Book, the former Judge of the International Criminal Court and various other high local and overseas posts, Tuiloma Neroni Slade, an old boy of Samoa College, had this to say:

Imagine the state of affairs in the country, a decade or so before independence. Remember also the low standards of education at the time, (an account of which appears in the Introduction). The establishment of a major educational institution in those circumstances would have been a considerable challenge.

But there was foresight and the purpose was true advanced education was the key to moving the country forward and for Samoans to better master their own development and political destiny. This was the motivation that gave origin to the school, and it remains a cornerstone principle. It is the principle-given expression, most aptly, in the theme of the publication: education for development.

Education is now accepted worldwide as integral to sustainable development. As a fundamental human right, it needs to be made a reality for all. It should remain the goal of the educational system in our own country.

Need we say more? We repeat: the government must enforce the compulsory schooling law. Manuia le aso.