It was a day of joy and celebration as the Le Amosa o Savavau Preparatory School in Vaitele held its prize-giving ceremony to celebrate the achievements of the more than 100 students at the school.

The prize-giving ceremony last Friday started with dance items by the students with the highlight a performance by students of the famous "what does the fox say" where they wore different masks representing the different types of animals in the animal kingdom.

The School Principal, Leota Fitimaula Donna Leaniva, said Le Amosa O Savavau Preparatory School is different from all other schools as Le Amosa does not have a dux or top student for the Year 8 and Year 13 levels.

“Here at Le Amosa we believe all students are equal and that is why we don’t have that kind of competitive environment here,” she said in an interview.

“We only give out their report cards and announce which Year 8 and Year 12 students have made it to the next level of their academic journeys.

Fitimaula said there are currently 98 students attending their primary level with 16 going to their college and she is hopeful those who will make the jump to the next stage of their education will be able to do so. 

“There are nine students graduating Year 13 this year, hopefully, when the results for the Samoa School Leaving Certificates (S.S.L.C.) are out, they’ll then be able to make the next move whether they’ll attend the National University of Samoa or the University of the South Pacific at Alafua next year,” she said. 

“Or if they want to study here at our university then they’re most welcome to pursue that."

One of the students, Talavou Opetaia told the Samoa Observer that he'll be attending Year 13 next year and sees his school as being different school from the others he's attended in the past.

"One of the things that are different over here at Le Amosa is that they prioritise the leaching and learning of the Samoan language and culture and it has instilled in me the Samoan values and traditions of love, respect and also appreciating nature," he said.

The prize-giving ceremony ended with the students receiving their report cards before performing their own version of the traditional Samoan "siva" performance.