Vaimauga College has been a school running without its own hall since before Samoa was officially declared independent. 

But all that is about to change. 

A groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday marked the start of a major redevelopment project to be funded by the Japanese Government with a budget of $500,000 leaving the school's students more than excited. 

The redeveloped building is scheduled to be completed within six months. 

Work on the foundation of the new hall began straight after the ceremony, with builders wasting no time to meet their deadline. 

The cost of only the new foundation is being met by the school’s parents and teachers committee together with its Old Pupils Association, through funds from fundraising events they held such as village cleanups and walkathons.

The rest of the development will be funded by the Japanese Government. 

The new hall will cover a 35-metre area and accommodate more than 600 students currently attending Vaimauga.

The new hall will be Vaimauga College’s first hall since the school was established. 

The school currently uses Falefitu Primary School’s hall for events and their end-of-year prize-giving ceremony because there was no hall specifically for Vaimauga.

The new hall will cover a 35-meter area and will accommodate more than 600 students currently attending Vaimauga.

The new hall will be Vaimauga College’s first hall since the school was established. The school currently uses Falefitu Primary School’s hall for events and their end-of-year prize-giving ceremony because there was no hall specifically for Vaimauga.

Leniu Vainiu Te’o said on Wednesday that the new hall has long been awaited by the teachers and students of Vaimauga.

“On sunny days Vaimauga has its general assemblies under the mango tree you see there, and during rainy days we use Falefitu Primary School’s hall right across from where we are,” he said.

“We submitted a request for assistance to the Japanese government if they could fund this new hall. We recently got their approval, which is why we’re here this morning to officially start construction of the new hall,” added the president. 

Since the establishment of the college, the absence of a proper hall for the school to hold its assemblies as well as holding student outdoor activities has been a deterrent to the learning environment.

Vaimauga College Principal, Fuimaono Tovio Taefu said the school is very grateful for the project that has now been planned, in order for the school to build a new hall for the students.

"Since the school started throughout its history we haven't had a school hall, which is one of the most important places for every school to have for gatherings when we have guests,” he said.

“And everything that is important to the school all takes place at the hall so the project which is now in progress we are very thankful to the executive Committee, Parents and Teachers Association, ex-students of Vaimauga College as well as the Vaimauga districts for this great initiative for our students.

"Building a new school hall will make it easier for the school to hold its outdoor activities; in the meantime, we have our school assemblies under one of the trees within the school compound."