A Japanese volunteer at the Fagalii Primary School has been hailed as instrumental in making math and science more engaging for students.

Since 2011, five Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) volunteers have served at the Fagali'i Primary School, each completing a two-year term. The current volunteer at the school is Sonoka Okamoto. 

“I’m so glad to help them (students) because I wanted to help Samoans; that is why I came here,” Okamoto said.

One of the most creative approaches introduced by Okamoto is the use of foam cups, making as much use as possible of their current resources.

“They just clean and use the foam cups for shapes and experiments, they're good at that,” said school principal Val Matatia. “They (JICA) have contributed so much to the development of science and math in our schools."

Mrs Matatia, who took over as principal last year in July, highlighted the long-term impact of JICA volunteers, noting their influence extends beyond the classroom. 

“More than half of the JICA volunteers have supported the education sector, particularly in mathematics and science,” she said. 

“Their expertise has helped improve learning outcomes and resource development using what’s available in our environment.”

However, language barriers remain a challenge. Year 5 and Year 6 teacher Mrs Fanueli, who works closely with Okamoto, plays a key role in bridging the gap. 

“The only barrier now is the language because it's very hard for the volunteers to communicate with the kids, and it's very hard for the kids to communicate with the volunteers,” she explained. 

“So that's why I'm always there during the lessons to translate.” But other than that, Mrs Fanueli acknowledged the "big help" from Okamoto.

"All her research and all the planning is spot on and it is a very big help for me too as a teacher.

"Maths and science has not always been my field back in the day but she has been a big help."

Despite these challenges, Okamoto remains dedicated to making a lasting impact. “I hope that Samoan education improves and I will continue to do my best,” she said.

JICA’s commitment to education in Samoa extends past individual volunteer placements. A mathematics handbook created by a former volunteer is still actively used by teachers, aligning with the Samoan curriculum and reinforcing key learning points.

As Okamoto continues her two-year assignment, her contributions—alongside those of past JICA volunteers—continue to shape the future of education at Fagalii Primary School, as acknowledged by the school's principal, Mrs Matatia.

Samoa Observer was part of a media tour organised by the Embassy of Japan and JICA. Fagali'i Primary School was one of the three sites the media tour visited before heading to the Animal Protection Society (APS) and the JPRISM 3 Solid Waste Management Project at Tafaigata.