14 lecturers graduate in Samoa

Apia (Samoa Observer/PINA Nius Online) – Fourteen senior Samoa Polytechnic lecturers were honored during a graduation ceremony held at the Samoa Polytechnic.

This memorable occasion marked the completion of a two-year-long Certificate in Adult Teaching course attended by the majority of Samoa Polytechnic lecturers. Conducted by New Zealand Overseas Development Aid adviser from Christchurch Polytechnic, Mrs. Jan Kent, the course facilitated lecturers “to study, improve their skills in planning, assessing and teaching programs” at Samoa Polytechnic

Ten other Samoa Polytechnic lecturers, who had completed the first two modules of basic training in adult teaching, were presented with Basic Modules Teaching and Learning Certificates. The courses were designed to coincide with Samoa Polytechnic’s mission which aims:

To provide a wide diversity of continuing education, including vocational training, that contributes to the maintenance, advancement and dissemination of knowledge and expertise and promote community learning by research and particularly applied technological research that aids development in Samoa.

New Zealand High Commissioner, Mr. Mac Price, was on hand to deliver the graduation address. As a strong advocate of education development programs in Samoa, Mr. Price expressed New Zealand’s strong support towards Samoa Polytechnic, especially at a time where modernization is slowly but surely creeping into the country. Mr. Price gave credit to the lecturers for their courage and effort.

He was particularly impressed with the their perseverance against the traditional view of education and continuous learning. This view assumes that learning stops when schooling is finished. Education doesn’t end when you leave school and when you’ve finished tertiary studies, Mr. Price remarked. Education is a life long endeavor. He encouraged the idea of continuous learning.

We should be encouraging the idea that it is perfectly OK for people to return to educational institutions when they enter the work force. One of the institutions Mr. Price said Samoa should be taking advantage of was Samoa Polytechnic with a variety of courses available to enhance a person’s knowledge in any field. The Certificate in Adult Teaching was part of an NZODA project that started in 1997.

The aim of the project was to develop hospitality and horticulture programes and to develop academic policies and staff development.

Senior Lecturer in Radio and Electronics Pelenato Petelo, speaking on behalf of the graduation class, said the course was not easy, but motivation from lecturers such as Bev Hair and Warwick Sherwood saw them through the tough times.

The 14 graduating lecturers were Paul Bartley (Welding and Fabrication), Lanisi Faimoa (Horticulture), Tupe T Isara (Business and Tourism), Sunema Kolose (Communications Studies), Oliva Lapalapa (Fitting and Machining), Vaisualua Okesene (Computing), Siaosi Peseta (Refrigeration and A/Conditioning), Pelenato Petelo (Radio and Electronics), Tertia Ryan (Business and Tourism), Joyce Scanlan (Tourism and Hospitality), Leufisa Seumanutafa (Secretarial Studies), Faamaoi Selu (Fitting and Machining), Mau Simanu (Electrical Engineering) and Tauvaga Vaai (Staff Development and Curriculum Co-ordinator.)