The National University of Samoa (N.U.S.) administration has commended the decision by the Cabinet for classes to resume for its students.

Responding to questions by the Samoa Observer on Tuesday, following the announcement by Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa on Monday night, the N.U.S. Vice Chancellor Aiono Alec Ekeroma said they are "grateful" to the Cabinet for granting their request. 

He said the N.U.S. administration had requested through the Disaster Advisory Committee for the national university to "re-open" from 10 May. 

"So we are grateful to cabinet and the Hon Prime Minister for granting our request. Early indications are that students are keen to return and so are their teachers," Aiono said. 

"We will manage the re-opening in stages over three weeks to enable social distancing and monitoring of infection rates."

The N.U.S. administration advised its students on Tuesday that they will stagger the reopening of our campuses from next Tuesday.

"A staggered reopening means not all, but a few selected programmes and courses will be allowed back on campus gradually," the notice from N.U.S. reads.

"Our campuses will remain closed this week (2-6 May) to students as we finalise our staggered reopening plan. 

"A list of specific main campus courses with practical components will be prioritised in our staggered reopening. 

"That list will be made available by this Friday 6 May."

However, Prof. Ekeroma said those courses with no exams with the online learning platform going well without student issues will be asked to continue to complete this semester. 

"Courses that have no exams and the online teaching is going well with no student learning issues will be asked to continue and complete Semester 1 via Moodle, Zoom and other multimedia.

"Our Mulinuu and Moto'otua campuses will have their own staggered reopening plans. The Head of Schools for Medicine as well as Maritime will announce their specific detailed reopening plans in due course."

According to Aiono, the university prepared for possible closure to June, which was why staff and teachers had advised students earlier upon approval from the Senate that some courses for this semester will not require the students to sit any national exams. 

"The University prepared for a possible closure to June, hence the academics worked arduously with the approval of Senate to make most courses have continuous assessment components without the need for exams. 

"However, some courses need exams and lecturers were working on innovative ways of doing those, until now. We have five weeks left before this semester’s exams, so Senate is meeting this Thursday to decide on courses that will require students to start next week and which courses will switch back to exams. 

"I suspect that most courses will remain coursework considering they have been approved already by Senate."

When asked about challenges they encountered throughout the seven weeks lockdown, Aiono said that they tried their best to address those issues. 

"Staff and students were reported struck by the virus so we were keen to maintain reports of any serious illness and recovery as there was significant uncertainty about illness and safety.

"We addressed the urgent need to equip teachers with laptops to teach from home, provide data allowance and trying innovative ways to reach and engage students in online learning.

"We know the absence of laptops and devices is a substantial factor for non-engagement – so we are starting a laptop hire scheme in an attempt to address that.

"Working from home plans were reminded and approved by supervisors to make sure the core business of the University continues."

Earlier last month, there were reports of over than 200 N.U.S. student who were unable log into Moodle to access learning material and assignments, though Aiono said the Head of each faculty at the N.U.S. tried their best to reach out to their "unengaged students". 

"The beauty of Moodle and Zoom is that we can tell who has logged in and when. Initially, we had about 280 students who for three weeks had not logged in. 

"It was down to 210 last week. The Heads of Faculties have been trying their best to reach out to their unengaged students using other means such as messenger group chats and then our NUS TV.

"We are keen to have those students who have not logged in to present to campus next week so assistance can be given them to catch up with their work."

Parents, guardians and students also have until Friday of this week to pay the tuition fees for the students. 

"Those who can't pay the full tuition amount are asked to come in and make any payment and sign a partial payment agreement.

"Fees can be paid at our Finance Office or via our BSP Account or via MTala. NUS Account details are on our website. 

"There is no late penalty fee. Non payment of any fees after the 6 May will result in de-registration.

"Students who have been awarded with Scholarships will receive refunds. We will put out a notice when refunds are ready for uplifting.

"Once we reopen slowly from 10 May, staff and students are reminded to wear a face masks, display their Vax card and NUS ID card, practice social distance and sanitise or wash hands regularly with soap."