Twenty-six United States Peace Corp volunteers were sworn in on Friday as a final step of induction before moving into villages to begin their two-year assignment. 

The Minister for Education Sports and Culture Loau Keneti Sio, in a ceremony at the National University fale, congratulated the group on their completion of nine weeks pre-service training that focused on technical skills, the Samoan language, and the Samoan culture. 

He said at the request of the Samoan Government, the 26 volunteers will be working in Samoa primary schools around the Islands of Upolu, Manono and Savai’i to help improve students numerical and literacy skills. 

Math and English subjects have become a concern for Samoan students, added the Minister, he looks forward to see good progress made in those two areas. Most of the volunteers will be assigned to rural areas.

“You will be assigned to schools in the rural areas to contribute to the work of principal and teachers. It is a wise choice because in the rural areas, you will get to experience the true essence of our culture and way of life,” he added.

Officials who turned up at the event last Friday were impressed when volunteers Ashley Emrich and Mathew Warden gave their speeches in the Samoan language.

The volunteers were sworn in by Tony Greubel, the Charge d’Affaires at the U.S. Embasy in Samoa and were accepted by Loau.