Samoa College will be taken over by new management today.

The school from now on will be run by a Board of Trustees made up of members of the Samoa College Old Pupils Associations (S.C.O.P.A). 

This was confirmed by the Chairman of the Board, Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi, during an interview with the Samoa Observer yesterday. 

A ceremony scheduled for this morning is where the Board intends to announce the necessary changes as part of their corporate plan in moving forward. 

Lealailepule said the move to take over the managing of the school has taken a lot of planning.

“This is a historical event for the school and S.C.O.P.A but even more so as the management team is made up of S.C.O.P.A members,” he said. 

Leala pointed to why Samoa College was established in the first place. 

“Samoa College was officially opened in 1953 by the New Zealand Government with the purpose to nurture students who will one day lead the country and that’s what we intend to do." 

“This is one of the main reason why S.C.O.P.A decided on electing the Board to manage the school... we need to bring the school’s quality of education to the highest standard.” 

According to Lealailepule, Samoa College is one of the last school’s to align itself with the government’s plan to outsource the management team. 

The problem is that Samoa College does not belong to a particular village as it's a government school. 

“So we intervened and made plans about taking over and while there was lot to consider prior to implementing the plan, it had to be done." 

“It won't be an easy move, the board members are committed and are keen to taking Samoa College to the next level, not only in terms of education standards but also the overall performance of the school.” 

He said that the Board of Trustees will continue its partnership with Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture who is paying for the teachers.

What will change? 

“There will be new policies and of course the necessary changes to improve the performance of the school.” 

According to Lealailepule, changes are always hard to accept and follow but changes are always for the better. 

Members of the Board of Trustees include: Afoa Kolone Vaai; Gatoloai Tili Afamasaga; Asiata Ulugia Fala; Su’a Sina Anamani; Lilomaiava Talatalaga Mata’u; Tei Tepora Wright; Matafeo Analisa Viali and Principal, Papali’i Reupena Rimoni.