Samoa College began its 70th Anniversary celebration on Friday morning with a prayer service held at the school Multipurpose Hall, Vaivase. 

It was officially opened on 2 October 1953 by Dr. Clarence Edward Beeby with 52 students in the secondary division and 170 in the primary, ranging from Standard 2 to Form 2. The establishment of the school marked the beginning of a new era for Samoa, putting in place the building blocks of education for a group of islands and its people, who gained independence a decade later.  

The commemorative service on Friday was attended by the Member of the Council of Deputy, Le Mamea Ropati Mualia and his good lady, the Deputy Prime Minister, Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio, New Zealand High Commissioner to Samoa, Dr. Trevor Matheson, Australia High Commissioner to Samoa, Emily Luck and the Opposition Leader, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi.

The members of the Samoa College Old Pupil Association (S.C.O.P.A.) including current students were also present. The guests were kept entertained by songs and hymns prepared by the current students and those from old pupils. The Council of Deputy, who is also an alumnus of Samoa College, had the honour to blow the cake for the 70th anniversary. 

The Deputy Prime Minister, Tuala congratulated the college which was established as the first learning institution for a specific purpose. He said in paving the way for the country's independence, Samoa recognised the need to effectively and positively develop future leaders through education.

In 1953, in collaboration with the New Zealand government at that time, Samoa College was established for this very reason.

Tuala reminded of Dr. Beeby as a renowned educator, aptly stating at the opening of Samoa College, that “the opening of Samoa College marks the beginning of a new era for Samoa." 

“The introduction of secondary school education to Samoa was a pivotal prerequisite for its journey towards independence,” he said. “Our forefathers knew that we could no longer rely solely on primary education, which merely prepared pupils for limited opportunities.

"Yet Samoa needed educated men and women who could lead us to a future of self-governance – with wisdom to serve. Samoa College was therefore established to provide education for the development of an independent state.”

Seventy years later, the Deputy Prime Minister said there is no doubt that this vision has been realised and fulfilled, and pointed out that graduates of Samoa College now hold leadership positions in government ministries and bodies, the private sector, the church, and village communities. 

"Thank you all for your contributions, both large and small, to the growth and prosperity of Samoa. May the light of knowledge continue to shine brightly through the halls of Samoa College, illuminating the path for future generations." 

Samoa College Principal, Karene Fa’asisila gave a run-down of the school's history and its 70 years of journey and progress.

The origins of formal education in Samoa lie in the activities of missionaries including the Wesleyans and members of the London Missionary Society. After 1914, the New Zealand administration began to supplement mission schools with government institutions. 

Avele was established as an agricultural school in 1924 and the education system gradually expanded. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, the need for educated men and women to manage the affairs of an independent nation became evident. 

The dream of a secondary school for Samoa began to take shape with the establishment of classes at Malifa in 1949. Forty-four district pupils, ranging in age and educational levels, were selected through a qualifying examination to receive accelerated teaching and learning, hence the term Accelerate School.

By 1952, students numbered around 150 and preparations for Samoa College heightened. It was officially opened on 2 October 1953 and cost £80,000 with the funds to build it coming from the profits of Reparation Estates (later WSTEC) given by New Zealand. 

The construction of the school’s premises began in 1951 on a 130-acre site at Vaivase, purchased at £45 per acre. It was located near Apia with access to water and electricity and large enough to allow for playing fields, staff houses, a plantation for food supply and future expansion. 

There have been many developments done over the years with science and computer laboratories, a library, a Samoan fale, secretarial classrooms, matron’s offices, hostel, tennis courts, netball courts, staff housing, college hall, bus shelter, classrooms, planting of foxtails and other garden projects and numerous S.C.O.P.A. class projects.

School facilities expanded over the years despite challenges brought on by cyclones and natural disasters including Cyclones Ofa and Val in 1990 and 1992 respectively and a severe earthquake in 1995. 

The earthquake of 1995 saw the main two-storey building with the two stairways and school logo – which most of the college's pioneers remember as the building in front where all assemblies were held and could be transformed for stage productions – demolished as it was no longer structurally safe. 

The old staffroom wing of the college was demolished in 2011 and only one main wing remains as the last and oldest structure left from the college's pioneer days.

The hostel was another integral part of the college and it started taking student-borders in 1961 with its official opening in 1962 and got closed in 2010 due to the restructuring of government schools at the time.

In 1958, the school badge was designed by Mrs. Donaldson with the motto “Through knowledge to achievement”. In 1965, four Samoan teachers joined the staff and the school motto was changed to “Atamai e tautua mo Samoa”. Fifty years later, students of this decade are leaders of government, public service, the church, business and various organisations.