The  Mulivai Safata Primary School has started the new academic year with an upgrade of its classrooms and schools courtesy of support from the German Embassy.

The school on Wednesday unveiled its newly tiled classrooms and school hall with the German Embassy in Wellington, New Zealand contributing over SAT$16,000 to the project.

Germany's Special Envoy for Pacific Island States, Ambassador Beate Grzeski, was the guest of honour at the unveiling on Wednesday and spoke on the significance of the project.

“This project is an example of a successful collaboration between Germany and Samoa," said Ambassador Grzeski.

"In this case it is the completion of a project improving the learning and sanitary conditions by tiling the school building’s floors. We have thereby ensured a better classroom environment for the benefit of students and teachers."

The President of the School Committee, Luisa Malele, said the school had been established many years ago and survived extreme weather conditions including tropical cyclones.

Following the bad weather, no one had stepped forward to provide assistance similar to that of the German Embassy, according to the President. 

"This project helped the school very well especially with the good hygiene for the students. Before we started the project, the kids would often have dirty uniform after the school and the rooms were very muggy and dusty."

School Principal Lutia Taupale Sialofi was elated at the upgrading of the school's facilities and praised the project.

”This project is of great help with the teaching and learning in the school. The kids learning in the clean environment leads to a great and positive mind."

Ambassador Grzeski – who was accompanied to the school ceremony by the Honorary Consul of Germany to Samoa, Tagaloa Christa Szegedi – said his mission is to enhance Germany's engagement in the Pacific and he was warmly received by Samoa Government officials during his visit.

"I have been warmly received by members of the Samoan government and local organisations to better understand and listen to how Germany can deepen cooperation on these shared challenges with Samoa," he said.

"We are therefore here today to celebrate an example of successful collaboration between Germany and Samoa.

"In this case it is the completion of a project improving the learning and sanitary conditions for both students and teachers at the school by tiling the school building’s floors."

Dedicating the project to Mulitalo Gaualofa Sautele-Vaai, Ambassador Grzeski said she comes from Mulivai Safata. He also acknowledged the financial support of the German Embassy as well as the school for the labour and additional material. 

Last year Samoa and Germany celebrated 50 years of diplomatic relations with the Special Envoy crediting the celebration of the relationship's jubilee for 10 projects that were supported by the Embassy. 

"All of these projects will continue to support the work of teachers and improve learning conditions for students across Samoa," said the Special Envoy.

"Education is playing a key role in equipping younger generations with the knowledge they need to address the global challenges we face. Your children are our future!"

Ambassador Grzeski also acknowledged the presence of the local M.P. Laumatiamanu Ringo Purcell, the Honorary Consul and her husband Stefan Szegedi Senior, and her son Stefan Szegedi.

Meanwhile, a partnership between the German Embassy and the Faga Primary School has led to the building of a new toilet block for the school.

Under the project the German Embassy contributed over SAT$23,000 worth of building materials for the school with the school also chipping in $11,500 worth of building materials and labor costs. The partnership resulted in the building of new toilet facilities for both the students and teachers.

The Honorary Consul of Germany to Samoa, Tagaloa Christa Szegedi, said the new toilet block will ensure a better hygienic and cleaner leaning environment for the students and teachers. 

"The children here at the school deserve and need a good education for their future development. As a result we all must work even closer together and provide assistance where we can."

Faga Primary School Principal Tuala Ioane Peseta expressed his appreciation for the partnership project that now sees the school have new facilities. 

“Thank you for funding the favourites of the students at this school. We have seen the importance of these facilities so that the students of Faga can continue to be healthy and disease free. This important assistance will go a long way."