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House rep. raises concern about private schools taking top honors in Math competition

What are they doing right, when ASG has “so many resources and … the most money”
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Students from private schools taking top honors in the recent Math competition, has prompted Rep. Vesi Talalelei Fautanu Jr. to question how students in private schools are able to reach such an achievement versus public school students.

Speaking at last Thursday’s House Education Committee hearing, Vesi also publicly declared that illegal drugs have made their way into schools and claimed that students are smoking (cigarettes) on school campus, just like teachers.

The hearing gave lawmakers a chance to share their thoughts and offer recommendations to Education director Dr. Ruth Matagi-Tofiga.

Results of the Territorial Math Competition held two weeks ago showed that top honors went to South Pacific Academy, Manumalo Academy, and Pacific Horizons – all private schools. Over 185 students representing various elementary and high schools across the territory – both public and private — participated. (See Samoa News edition Mar. 13 for details.)

During the House committee hearing, Vesi noted the recently completed Math competition results, saying that the reflection of students’ performance in the Math competition is a reflection on Math teachers.

“I can only wonder and ask the question — ‘what are these guys [the private schools] doing right that we are not doing’?” he said. “We [ASG] have so many resources and of course we have the most money.”

However, students from private schools took top honors in the competition and “this is a trend,” with private schools taking top scores, said Vesi, who also made it clear that he was not being prejudiced towards private schools. 

Vesi then moved on to another issue of concern, claiming that drugs have made their way into schools and “this is not a joke, this is not a rumor.” He also told the ASDOE director about a recent interaction with a school security officer, who is also a teacher — but didn’t identify the name of the school or the officer.

According to the Manu’a lawmaker, he asked the security officer why they are not enforcing current law banning smoking on government grounds when it comes to students allegedly smoking on school campuses.

And the security officer’s response what that they have tried many times telling students, but it couldn’t be done as students see teachers also smoking on school campuses.

“So we have to fix the internal combustion — inside the schools. Until we fix that, then we [can] follow,” he said, adding that he suggested to the security officer to recommend to the school principal to, maybe once or twice a month, conduct a health and welfare inspection, in which students are gathered in the morning and a check (search) is conducted of the students’ bags.

“I guarantee you,” if the bags of these students are inspected “you will find a pack of cigarettes,” Vesi said, recalling what he told the security officer. He then noted that he would be thankful that only packs of cigarettes will be found, but it could be worse and he is fearful, if guns are found in the bags.

“We need to fix this problem,” he said and informed the director that, “if you feel you need [to make] a change, do it, don’t hesitate,” the lawmaker said.

Vesi went on share his comments and concerns on three other issues, such as school buses — as there appears to be a shortage resulting in students waking up early in the morning — around 3:30a.m. — to catch the school bus.

He also requested that Manu’a students to be included in all school competitions, saying that he does not accept the excuse that students from his island group cannot participate due to transportation issues. He said Polynesian Airlines is serving the island group as well as the MV Manu’atele (which is currently down).

While Vesi said the director doesn’t have to reply to the issues he raised, Matagi-Tofiga did address some of the issues including the recent Math and Science competitions, saying that she takes these issues very seriously.

She explained that after the recent competitions with the results showing that public school student didn’t do well, the first thing she did was look at “stats from previous years” and from there she found that teachers in “content area” — Math, Science and English — is something “we need to address.”

Matagi-Tofiga pointed out that there are personnel overseeing the department’s programs who should be out in the field teaching in the classroom and she has spoken to them about it.  And last week Wednesday, she met with WorldTeach organization executive director Karen Doyle Grossman, who was given ASDOE’s request for the need for “content area teachers.”

WorldTeach in the past years has sent volunteer teachers for ASDOE, and the volunteers are then placed in the classrooms, she said, adding that content areas are “core subjects” and teachers are needed.

In response, WorldTeach requested that ASDOE provided the specific needs for “content area” teachers — whether it’s for elementary or secondary division — so that the volunteer teachers are prepared upon arrival and assigned to either division.

The director reiterated that she takes this issue seriously and that “Math, English and Science are the three content areas for the department to focus on.”

Private schools offer tutoring for their students “and it comes with commitment of the teachers “ and to “tutor these students” parents need to push teachers, she said and told lawmakers that an after school tutoring program is being offered, for example in Tualauta, the program involves 900 students focusing on “literacy skills.”