Samoa College History Project

Introduction

In 2003, Samoa College celebrated its Golden Jubilee. Founded upon the vision that education is the key to self-government the school was for many years the leading secondary education institution, and those attending were assured of a future job. The negotiations between the Samoan leaders of the day (late 40s) and the New Zealand Administration led to the establishment of Samoa College in 1953, to educate Samoans in preparation for self-government. A quick survey has revealed that indeed, many of the current leaders of the nation are those who received their secondary education at Samoa College. 

Purpose of Project

This project will compile the history of the school and how it has contributed to the development of Samoa, the first Pacific Island nation to become independent. It is a conscious effort to see how and whether that vision has been fulfilled. The outcome is expected to be a valuable analysis that may possibly identify any gaps in the school offering and suggest areas for improvement.

Project Team members

Description and scope of the project

• A chronological record of the development of the school, in particular, the product of the college (educated young men and women) and how this has contributed to the human resources and other aspects of the development of Samoa. Areas e.g. academic, commerce, leadership, church, political, sports will be included.

• Publication will be in chapters focusing on each of the 5 decades plus a prologue on the pre-1953 years (at the Accelerate school in Malifa). Approximately 250-300pp is envisaged.

• Contributing writers are drawn from ex-students of each year of each decade, including the school leadership (head boy, head girl, dux), all those from the first decade, principals, and long serving teachers. Writers will include three ex-students and the principal of that year, and an effort has been made to select a gender balanced group. Siblings, parents and their children have been carefully screened to minimize duplication of family members and to ensure wide representation. And, those invited to write in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th decades have been given the option to submit a group presentation if preferable.
  

• Exceptional achievers are also being invited, as are SCOPA groups residing outside Samoa.
  

• Book to be printed and ready for launching by the start of the celebrations week, December 11-12 2003. The book is entitled:
  The Vision: Education for Development
  Samoa College - the first 50 years
  

• Video (if time and funds permit): this will be produced should expertise, funds, and time allow.

Action Plan

The USP Centre in Samoa (at Alafua Campus) is providing a venue for meetings and to house the collection of materials received. Centre facilities are also on hand for administrative use. The schedule of the tasks to be undertaken by team members for the production of the book is as follows:

**May to October 2002: 

Publicise project - public notice to invite/request for materials.
Identify, select and approach contributors. 
Start to collect writings. Photos submitted to be scanned as they are received. Further research on developments and events. 
Notice in Samoa Observer (May) served to make people aware of the project. Subsequently, the notice was published twice by the weekly Le Samoa without cost, followed by a free posting on Samoalive website by a supporter of the project.

**October 2002 - end June 2003:

Production of first draft. 
Team members have collated during a 2-day workshop, a first draft of the publication. There are 5 chapters of about 70pp. Each chapter includes stories from contributors, a summary of historical information (entrants/year*, significant events, achievements (academic, sports, cultural), staff, honours board, school roll (numbers), and photographs. Further enhancements and analysis are being carried out where necessary.

** June-July 2003:

Revise, amend and improve draft manuscript. 
Editing for consistency in chapters. Project team will continue refining manuscript. A final editing profreading will be undertaken.

** July-August 2003:

Design & layout. 
A professional graphics designer works with the team to produce a camera-ready masters.

** October-November 2003:

Printing. 
Print run planned is 5000. If possible, book will be printed locally.

** December 2003:

Launching
Distribution of publication to libraries (Samoa, region), schools, Government ministries, donor agencies, contributors. 
Possibility for sale to ex-students and general public for funds towards multipurpose centre.

*Lists of entrants have now been compiled and are available for viewing on the website as well as the Nelson Memorial Library. Members are asked to check these lists for accuracy and contact any of the team for amendments by August 31st 2003.

Contact person is:
Leatuaolevao Ruby Vaa
at : USP Centre
Alafua Campus, Apia, SAMOA
Email: vaa_r@samoa.usp.ac.fj
Tel. 23454/20874
Fax. 23424
Others are:
Ruta Fiti Sinclair tel. 22331, email: sinclair@lesamoa.net
Gatoloai Tili Afamasaga tel 20072 extn 130, email: t.afamasaga@nus.edu.ws