Gatoloaifa’ana Humbled by University Honour

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA – 19 DECEMBER 2022: The Public Service Commissioner Gatoloaifaana Tilianamua Afamasaga was emotional when she acknowledged the honour bestowed upon her by the University of Samoa last Friday.

“I never thought I would be selected to such a prestigious honour and I am humbled and grateful for the honour,” said Gatoloaifaana.

She acknowledged the University Council for the honour.

The Head of State, Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi 11 presided over the conferring of the Honorary Doctor of Letters-DLitt (Hon).

Gatolooaifaana then addressed the public and the 2022 graduating class.

“The certificates, diplomas and degrees you receive today may be a step towards a new job, a better salary, an entry to further your studies or the realization of your dreams,” she said.

She had a simple message for the graduating class of 2022.

“Find your talents, the gifts that God has given you, education helps hold and sharpen those gifts, then find the work and job that you love and you enjoy.

Be with people that empower you and that you are empowered in turn,” said Gatoloaifaana.

Gatoloaifaana address after she was conferred the honour.

Her education & career
She was educated at Samoa College, Hamilton Girls High School and Christchurch Teachers College where she gained a Dip. Teaching in 1971.

She taught in Samoa for  5 years before entering Macquarie University in Australia where she obtained her BA Dip-Ed in 1978.

Returning to Samoa, she taught at the Secondary Teachers College and in 1992 went back to Macquarie University where she obtained her Master of Arts degree in Teacher Education in 1993.

She also taught at Samoa College and Vaipouli College before she was appointed to lead the Secondary Teachers’ College and spearheaded the Colleges merge with the National University of Samoa and established the Faculty of Education in July 1997.

She was the founding Dean of the Faculty of Education from July 1997 to 2005 and by the time she left, there were 4 programmes taught at FOE.

She also led the NUS Oloamanu Centre for Professional Development and Continuing Education from January 2006 to June 2012.

Gatoloaifaana Tilianamua Afamasaga and Professor Ioana Chan Mow.

In her second year as Director, the Samoa in Country Training Program (ICTP) was transferred from NZ management to the Oloamanu Centre. This program had a $1.75 million annual budget for capacity building in the private, NGO and public sub sectors.

Her work has gained her memberships in many professional associations including:

• Samoa National Teachers Association where she was President 1995-2012;
• Council of Pacific Association of Teacher Educators (regional) where she was President (2003 – 2006);
• Vice President 2007-2012, and President again (2012-2016);
• Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management (2006-present)
• Samoa Institute of Directors 2006-present;
• Founding member of the Rethinking Education in the Pacific for Pacific People by Pacific People (REIPP for short) – a consortium of Pacific educators who continue to interrogate educational development in the Pacific for relevance, effectiveness and quality for Pacific people. This has resulted in the Vaka Pasifika School of Thought which has become an academic discipline studied by many Pacific scholars today;
• Samoa Teachers’ Council 2019-present.

“Gatoloai continues to carry out consultancies in education and training, advocacy work in women leadership and championing the welfare of workers in the context of workers organizations today.”

She is a long serving high achieving educationalist dedicated to changing lives. This passion has extended her to drive and lead the Samoa Workers Congress and to champion the issue of child labour.

She was recently appointed a Commissioner at the Public Service Commission.