A school at the centre of accusations of favouritism and nepotism after it awarded the dux award to another student says the family has accepted the school’s decision.

The Chanel College issued a statement on Monday, in response to an article in the Monday edition of the Samoa Observer that reported on the disagreement last Friday, said their staff met with the parents and they’ve agreed with the assessment formula that the school used to make the determination.

The Principal Aleki Silao said that he invited Tusipauna Lotutamaiti – the father of the second place student and his family to a meeting at the college – where he explained the process to the family, especially the father.

“I am happy he and his wife Faatoina and son Tusipauna accepted the invitation,” said Mr. Silao.

The school’s policy of standardisation, according to the Principal, was used to determine the final placing for the school’s top students and the policy was implemented even before this year’s final internal exams. The three teachers who did the calculations for the school also explained how they arrived with those gradings.

“As  agreed the discussion was done in good faith and at the end Mr.  Tusipauna accepted the decision by Chanel College,” said Mr. Silao.

The Principal said they are also looking forward to the 2021 Samoa School Leaving Certificate results to see how their students performed.

In a previous interview with the second placed student, Tusipauna said he topped his class for the middle year assessment and had worked hard to maintain his position.

“I want to be a teacher in the future because I love accounting and hopefully my journey will lead to a brighter future," he said. 

The school last Friday announced Letitia Peka Nonu as the overall dux with second place going to Tusipauna Enari Lotutamaiti. 

But the family of the student who came second expressed disappointment with the grading, saying their child’s report card showed that he was placed first overall for Year 13. Tusipauna was announced the school’s top commerce student after coming first in health and physical education, economics, accounting and english.