Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMO — Orientation begins at 8a.m. today, Friday, at Nuuuli Vocation Technical High School for the Education Department’s Samoan language instruction for elementary school students, the ASIA — or Aoga Samoa i Alalafaga - Program.

The program is offered, again, this year for the summer under the ASDOE’s Community Office.

Dr. Senouefa Manao, head of the ASIA Program stated that the memo designating today a govt holiday honoring the new Juneteenth designation was last minute and that the orientation is still happening. The Director of DOE Talauega Dr. Samasoni Asaeli also concurred that the orientation go ahead as planned as it was too late to change.This information is according to Talanei News.

The program utilizes local church ministers and their wives to conduct classes in various villages.  ASIA offers reading in the Samoan language, mathematics, and writing from Monday to Thursday while Friday is designated as the Cultural Day, according to ASDOE.

The ASIA program will run from June 21st through July 15th. The classes are from Monday to Friday from 7:30 am to 12 noon. Transportation and meals will be provided by ASDOE School Lunch Program.

There will be 16 sites for this year’s summer program: Aunu’u CCCAS; Tula AOG; Amouli Catholic; Amaua CCCAS; Leloaloa Methodist; Pago Pago CCCAS; Fagatogo CCCAS; Matu’u and Faganeanea CCCAS; Nu’uuli Methodist; Fatuoaiga Catholic; Faleniu CCCAS; Pavaiai CCCAS; Fagaima AOG; Vaitogi CCCAS; Vailoa CCCAS and Nua and Seetaga CCCAS.

The program originated from the Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa (CCCAS), which in past years offered Aoga Samoa in churches throughout the territory.

As a pilot project, and using the CCCAS model, the ASDOE summer project titled "A'oga Samoa i Afio'aga" was created with focus to develop and to teach language and language skills, according to ASDOE.

For questions contact the ASDOE Community Office at 699-7017.