The Ministry of Education, Sports, and Culture (M.E.S.C.) is looking to secure funds to renovate a school built at the old Tafa'igata Prison facility. 

This was confirmed by the Education Minister, Seuula Ioane in response to questions from this newspaper on Wednesday morning. 

The St. Paul's Academy in Tafa'igata is being used by students living in Siusega, Aleisa, Nu'u and Falelauniu. 

Last September, the parents of students attending St. Paul's Academy wrote to the government raising concerns about the safety of the facility as a learning institution. 

They said St. Paul's Academy needs a facelift. 

"First of all, our students are not prisoners. We see them sitting inside the cells used by inmates during school hours and it's disheartening," they said.

"The rooms are small and very hot inside as they were used to keep the inmates and some classes are using cells as classrooms. The facilities are not in good condition as it had been used by prisoners for so many years and we believe that it is no longer safe for the children. 

"Lastly, there's a need for a playing field for the students within the school compound."

In response to queries from the Samoa Observer, Seuula agreed that the condition of the school needs to be changed. 

"The plan is to renovate and turn the school into a proper learning environment for the students," Seuula said. 

"We are now trying to secure funds to execute that plan."

Seuula also confirmed that there is a need to extend the school and establish another school around this area as more and more people are settling in around this area. 

Seuula first made these comments in Parliament during Government responses during deliberations on the 2023-2024 budget. 

He told Parliament that they have been made aware that this particular area is becoming crowded and there's a need to establish another school to cater for the students residing in this area. 

"The Ministry is looking at setting up another primary school and maybe a college around that area," Seuula told this newspaper. 

"That's why the parents have opted to take their students to other schools in Vaitele, Vaigaga just to name a few because there are now more and more people residing in this area.

"We hope that once we secure funding, we will be making the upgrades to the old facility and also expanding it."

The concerns from the parents of the students at St. Paul's Academy were outlined in a letter penned by members of the clergy, matai, and high chiefs from the villages whose children are using the facility. It was addressed to Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata'afa and her Cabinet. 

Dated 28 September 2022, other Cabinet Ministers including the Minister of Education, Sports and Culture, Seuula Ioane, are copied.

"There are a lot of things that need to be fixed and improved as our students are using the rooms used by prisoners in the past," the letter reads.

The elders of the village are of the view that something needs to be done to improve the learning environment. 

"There's no need to explain that the school is built on an old prison facility and was used by inmates in the past. The decision to turn it into a school happened quickly and therefore went ahead with opening without considering other factors. 

"However, the truth is, the facilities are not safe for the well-being of our students."

The letter sought financial assistance from the government in renovating the facility for the students living near Tafa'igata. It further sought assistance from the government in getting financial assistance from other donor partners such as the Embassy of Japan. 

The academy was opened in July of 2020 by the former prime minister, now opposition leader, Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi.

The academy was the first-ever model school to combine all three levels of schooling and comes under the care of the Ministry of Education Sports and Culture [M.E.S.C.].

 At the time of the official opening Tuilaepa said the compound was affording students opportunities for a better future and commended M.E.S.C. for working to establish a school for students in the area.

“This academy is history in the making and will become a first-ever model school consisting of all three levels of schooling, a vision long wished for by the Ministry,” Tuilaepa said at the time. 

The 20 acres of land approved by the former Cabinet for the redevelopment had been under construction by the Ministry since June 2020.

A total of $2.979 million tala has been allocated by the government for School Improvement Services in the 2023-2024 Budget.