Samoa Does Not Need More Academic Education but Basic Ethics & Values

By Lagi Keresoma.

“With respect, in my own view, Samoa does not need more academic education but more basic values,” Aeau Chris Hazelman, CEO – Education & Culture.

 Apia, Samoa – 08 December 2023: An intelligent person with an excellent educational background means nothing if he/she lacks ethics and values.

This was a direct message delivered by the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Education & Culture, Aeau Christopher Hazelman at the celebration of the 75^th anniversary of Human Rights.

The theme for Human Rights Day 2023 is “Right to Education” which Aeau said is vital to the development of a person and country but there are aspects that needs to be achieved.

As an educator himself, he said people need to be open minded and ask who are really being educated at schools.

He said information is vital to education and whilst intellectual education influence the head, basic education influence the heart and if people only concentrate on educating the head, then it would be dangerous because building characters in our homes, Ministries and communities, must achieve ethics and values.

“Therefore, education that builds fundamental trades of character such as honesty, responsibility, taking initiative rather than been told, courage and resistance is essential,” he said.

“With respect. in my own view, Samoa does not need more academic education, we need more value-based education. There is no point of having excellent academic qualifications if you are lacking in morals and values,” said Aeau.

He noted that Samoa like the rest of the world is facing many forms of challenges.

“For example, the level of reading. There is no difference between a person who cannot read and person who can read but does not understand what he is reading,” he said.

He said education should teach literacy, numeracy, science, health and wellbeing, climate change and resilience, the trades and vocations and digital literacy, but should also build on character, commitment, conviction, courtesy, courage and common sense.

“There is no good in intellectual education without understanding human dignity and compassion,” he said.

Government, Non-Government Organisations, Community representatives and children celebrate the Human Rights 75th anniversary at LAVA Hotel.

Influence of social media
Then come social media which seems to be the classroom for many especially the younger generation of Samoa.

Social media has many advantages but is also full of lies, fake news and the tone of language used is horrible.

Children are young and are eager to learn, to know and with easy access to advance technology, they are quick to absorb information on social media whether the information is right or wrong.

Being a former director for Catholic schools, Aeau is very much aware of the challenges children are facing today.

He issued a challenge to all children of Samoa by forming a powerful message by combining the various mottos adopted by major schools and colleges in Samoa.

The Paul VI College  motto “Put into Deep” – Tu’utu’u i le Loloto, St Mary’s College “Spirit of Wisdom” – Agaga Kerisiano, St Josephs College “ Strive for the Best” – Tausisi i mea Aupito Lelei, Chanel College “Hold Steady the Faith” – Tumau i le Faatuatua, Samoa College “Serve with wisdom” – Atamai e Tautua.

The final message he said was: “Tu’utu’u i le Loloto i le Agaga Kerisiano, Tausisi i mea Aupito Lelei, ia Tumau i le Faatuatua ma Tautua ma le Atamai.” 

As part of celebrating the 75 anniversary of Human Rights and the Right to Education, the Office of the Ombudsman put together a Tik Tok and Poem competition targeting the youth as part of the awareness programme.

The Acting Ombudsman, Faualo Maualaivao Pepe Seiuli reiterated the importance of education.

“The competition aims to raise awareness of the importance of the right to education as its own right, and as an enabling right to access other rights such as adequate standard of living and wellbeing,” he said.

This prompted an open discussion on the accessibility to funding and how several United Nations agencies such as UNICEF/UNDP/and UNESCO can assist.

There were presentation from various agencies and Government ministries to broaden the understanding on the rights to education for children,

The United Nation Resident Coordinator to Samoa Themba Kalua said that whilst the primary responsibility to ensure the enjoyment of human rights rests on Government, everyone has a role to play in promoting and protecting human rights.

The anniversary celebrations will culminate with a candlelight service on Sunday.