It is going to be a good year for the students of St. Marys All Girls College with the German Embassy in Wellington, New Zealand donating $30,000 to upgrade technological facilities allowing students to get better with computer-associated learning.

The Vaimoso school has always been a front-runner when it has come to academic achievements, the help is aimed at lifting that to the next level.

The assistance will enable the school to purchase 15 laptops for the computer lab, an air conditioning unit, and equipment for the office to provide a better learning environment, especially with computing. 

Consul of Germany to Samoa, Tagaloa Christa Szegedi explained the importance of this project with Saint Mary’s College.

“These laptops will provide the students the opportunity to learn in the area of computer studies. Now more than ever it is vital that our future generation understand how to use computers," she said.

“I am both the German Consul to Samoa and a businesswoman. I know the importance of giving young women the foundation to be successful. These laptops will hopefully provide Saint Mary’s College with this foundation”.

The school principal, Lepetiaima Sina Fitu expressed her sincere appreciation for the assistance.

“Computing is compulsory in Saint Mary’s College. As the school continues to grow, there is then a great need for more computers to cater for all students," she said.

"This project will help increase the number of computers for the students to use and to access e-learning approaches which are believed to be the fastest and the most effective ways for students to learn.”

Principal Fitu also explained that Saint Mary’s College believes in blended learning strategies. She said better learning will also be developed from traditional methods to blended learning pedagogies. 

"This Project from the Embassy of Germany will surely help the development of computer studies in Saint Mary's College”.

The assistance is part of the German government’s support towards the education sector in Samoa.

Meanwhile, St. Mary's has a roll of more than 400 students.

The principal in a previous interview explained that last year was one of the most successful years for hasthe all girls school with many achievements and projects being completed for the betterment of the students' academic journeys within their premises.

"There's a total of 450 students at St. Mary's and 71 in the graduating class and what's important is that they all made it to university and we're so proud of them and wish them all the best."