Fero Samoa has awarded scholarships to 10 students across different tertiaries such as Don Bosco, the National University of Samoa (NUS), and the University of the South Pacific (USP) as part of its initiative to support trades education and address the shortage of skilled workers in the country.

The scholarships valued at $1,500 each were awarded during a special prize-giving ceremony attended by parents, caregivers, and government officials, including the Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Labour (MCIL) Faleomavaega Titimaea Tafua.

Fero Samoa General Manager Teleiai James Potoi said the scholarship program was the first of its kind and was introduced to help students pursue careers in trades.

“We struggle to find tradespeople, good tradespeople,” Teleiai said. “Usually, when we finish training someone - they disappear. Right now we get our technicians and all these people from Germany, Australia, and New Zealand. It’s very expensive.”

The shortage of trained tradespeople has led to operational challenges for businesses, forcing companies like Fero Samoa to hire overseas experts at a high cost. Teleiai recalled an incident where specialised repairs had to be outsourced due to the lack of local expertise. Teleiai also emphasised the importance of building stronger links between students and the industry, allowing recipients to gain practical experience during semester breaks.

“Once proven themselves, they can come and work on attachment between semesters,” he said. “And that establishes a rapport and links, between the industry and students.”

Among those present at the ceremony was Verutina Isaia-Iosia, whose son, Wollastonia Lene Iosia, was one of the scholarship recipients. She expressed gratitude for the financial assistance, noting that she has three children in tertiary education.

“It’s very expensive. It’s hard to finance school, but with this assistance, it helped us with the tuition fee,” she said. “My son worked hard for this, and we are very blessed he was selected."

Iosia shared that her son initially aimed for an overseas scholarship but did not meet the required marks, leading the family to seek alternative funding for his education at USP in cyber security.

"It's a very proud moment for myself and my family. This means I can now focus on my school work and not have to worry about the financial side - it is a relief," said Wollastonia. "This also means it is a less financial burden on my parents and I can fully focus on my studies." 

Teleiai emphasised that there are no obligations tied to the scholarships, as the company’s primary goal is to see students succeed in their fields. “The pride that we will feel is actually saying, ‘Oh, these students, we’re partially responsible for their success,’ and that’s good enough for us,” he said.

The company plans to continue offering the scholarships annually aiming to strengthen the connection between students and the industry while helping develop a skilled local workforce.