St. Peter Channel College celebrates 60 years

By Talaia Mika

APIA, SAMOA – 20 SEPTEMBER 2022: St. Peter Channel College at Moamoa is extending the celebration of its 60 years to coincide with Samoa’s year-long celebration of independence.

The students, staff, families and friends came together at the Tuutuuileloloto Hall last Friday to celebrate the milestone for one of the prominent Catholic Colleges and its contribution to the country.

Cultural performances led by a pageant to find the Miss and Mr Channel College this year were performed in marking their birthday.

“We’re very fortunate to reach this milestone, all students and the staff are, and we’re grateful for all the sponsors that have come through to help and we’ll be extending it towards the end of the year,” college Principal, Aleki Silao told Talamua.

Chanel College was established by a priest from New Zealand in 1962 and was originally a boys-only boarding school with special permission for non-boarders.

It later became a co-educational school that employed Father Bernard Doherty as its first principal.

Looking for Miss and Mr Chanel College.

Oceania Marist Province then took over the school until they withdrew last year and the administration was passed on to the Chanel College’s Board and Association of former students that formed a co-governance group to look after the school.

In its 60 years, among its former students include Archbishop Alapati Lui Mataeliga, the Minister of Women, Community and Social Development, Leota Laki Lamositele, former Minister of Finance Sala Epa and the College’s principal, Silao who is from Tokelau.

Silao said he has been in Samoa since childhood and was educated in Chanel College where he was the Head Boy of in 1971 while Alapati – now Archbishop, was the Deputy Head Boy.

Silao has seen a lot of developments in the school since its establishment and in 2008, the school’s enrolment exceeded 400 students.

That number dropped to two hundred last year to hundred and fifty students enrolled this year.

According to the school principal, there are challenges facing the school especially with the impact of the pandemic.