Lessons learnt from the COVID-19 preventative measures are still being practiced at Samusu Primary School and this has ensured in a healthy and safe learning environment.

This is believed to keep the number of students increasing in the school which is now over 200 and growing in the first two months of the year compared to last year when there were only 198.

In an interview with the Samoa Observer, the school principal, Ulima Fofola explained that it is better to be safe than sorry.

"Since the pandemic, there haven't been any more positive cases in the school except for cases of flu and what we're doing now is that once someone has the flu, we still send them home so that it doesn't affect the others and we're still carrying out that preventative measures," she explained.

"We also have strategies in place for any diseases that may infect the children and teachers are keeping a close eye on the kids. Once they have flu or are coughing we send them home.

"Even with their food consumption, we have two days for fruits where the students are only allowed to bring fruits for their lunch and that's on Wednesdays and Fridays.

"It's all part of keeping the children healthy and the Ministry of Education is also working together with the Ministry of Health."

Asked whether this was the case before Covid-19, the principal said yes but this time, the awareness has spread from children to the parents.

Ms. Fofola also stressed that the idea is to keep the students healthy and boost their nutrition, but also to help with their parents' expenses low.

"We're mindful of the parents' situations as some parents have just enough income while some do not and with these two days of fruit consumption, they can just get fruits from their land like pawpaw and coconuts and they don't have to spend any money at all," she said.

One of the parents, Ana Viane said the parents are supportive of the idea that they spend less on the children.

"Most children cry out for this and that and once they know that this is strictly carried out in the school, they understand and are now getting used to it and at the same time, enjoy fruits for two days," she said.

"It's also important for our children in terms of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and keeping themselves free of diseases and illnesses that may harm them."