Families and friends of 23 candidates who passed the Malua Theological College entrance exam on Tuesday crowded the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa's Multipurpose Hall on Tuesday.

They were waiting for the results of the "Ta'utinoga” or a stringent interview process conducted by the leaders and elders of the C.C.C.S. under the supervision of the church's Elders Committee. 

The list of the successful 23 candidates was released in October of 2020, but they had to undergo this final step before officially embarking on their four-year journey at Malua in 2021.

The interview tests applicants’ characters and behaviour before granting them admittance to the college. 

A medical certificate is also needed to confirm that all the candidates are in good health. 

Having completed the final stage of the process, all 23 candidates will now prepare to enter Malua as first-year students this year.

The interview for students living abroad was conducted online. They will start their studies online until national borders open.

Out of the 23 successful candidates, 19 will be accompanied by their wives while four are not yet married, and six are overseas candidates comprising four from Australia and two from New Zealand.

The Malua Theological College was officially opened in 1844 by Rev. George Turner and Rev. Charles Hardie of the London Missionary Society. 

For more than 170 years, it has provided training for future church ministers of the C.C.C.S. and other partner churches and their spouses.

It was announced last year that a Bachelor of Divinity programme offered at Malua Theological College became the country's first bachelor's degree programme to be locally accredited by the Samoa Qualifications Authority.

The accreditation was officially confirmed and approved during the S.Q.A Board meeting in February 2020.

The four single aoao (candidate) entering Malua this year are: Makarios Fatu Malaefono, Peresia Muagututia, Samuelu John Ah Sam and Slam Opetaia Samuelu. 

The other candidates are: Afasene and Taufua Falana'i, Alipapa and Fofoainu'uese Malaga, Aperaamo and Lautasi Apelu, Aukuso Eneli and Luafata Gasolo, Caesar Faifaiaso and Norah Utufua, Frank and Akenese Faatau, Fred Fale and Muniao Laban, Kaleuati and Faleulu Tusi, Lance Junior and Fa'atamali'i Tautiepa, Lualua and Peata Manila, Makesi Aiva Namulauulu, Misioka Nicholas and Rosaana Tanielu, Nu'utasi Fuiavailili and Helen Neria, Sebastian Tuifao, Spencer Eseese and Fa'afou Leuta, Talia and Lise Iati, Vagatai Muaau, Viliamu Eletise and Rosehill Su'a, and Vincent Fa'aofo.