Five students from Saint Joseph's College charged for their hand in the school brawls can sit their national examinations.

The Chief Executive Officer for the Ministry of Education and Culture Aeau Chris Hazelman said if the students have paid their fees, they can still sit their Samoa Secondary Leaving Certificate examination. 

"The Ministry will allow any student who has been expelled from any school to sit any national assessment, especially if the student has already paid their exam fees. So in this matter if the students have already registered and paid their exam fees then they are still allowed to sit their exams that begin on 18 November," he said.

"The Ministry will also communicate with the principal if they would allow the students to sit their exams at the school or not. Last year we had one student sit their exams here at Malifa because the principal did not allow the person to enter the school grounds after his expulsion."

A brawl between Saint Joseph's College and Maluafou College landed a Maluafou College student in the hospital and five SJC students have been charged as a result of the incident. Both schools have already reconciled.

A public apology was made by the Marist Brother's Governance Board in late September.

On Monday 23 September 2024, a student of Maluafou College was seriously injured in an altercation between the students of St Joseph’s College and Maluafou College in Apia. Almost two weeks prior, on 12 September, a fight had also taken place in town which was started when students of Maluafou College stoned a bus carrying students of St Joseph’s College.

The Marist Brothers’ Governance Board took full responsibility for the unacceptable behaviour of the students involved which they said had tarnished the good name of the College. 

"We sincerely apologise to the general public and to Maluafou College, and in particular, the student who was injured during the altercation," said the governance board.