No Evidence to Terminate Sagaga College Principal, says Education Minister

By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, Samoa – 21 February 2024: The Minister of Education & Culture, Seuula Ioane has confirmed that there is no evidence to warrant the termination of the Sagaga College principal as requested by the Sagaga 2 Member of Parliament, Maulolo Tavita Amosa and College Committee.

Seuula told Talamua that the Committee asked him through a letter to terminate the services of the College Principal.

The Minister did not give details of the grounds the request for termination was based on. But he said it connects to the ongoing land dispute between Afega and the villages of Levi, Alamutu, Leauva’a and Tuanai.

The students from these villages are catered by the Sagaga College now located inland of Afega village.

“An investigation was conducted on the principal and the result was there was no evidence to support the request or warrant the termination of the College principal,” Seuula explained.

He said that was the end of the matter as far as he knows, however, the Minister is unaware of the latest development of an alleged ban on Levi and Tuanai children from attending the college.

The college was originally located at Tuanai for many years but due to environmental issues and vicinity to the sea, the district decided to relocate the college to Afega where it is now.

The Sagaga 2 MP, Maulolo Tavita Amosa.

Since the move to terminate the principal surfaced, several parents have voiced their anger towards Maulolo and the committee and could not accept the fact that an educator could jeopardise their children’s education.

Maulolo is an educator and has been a teacher for many years and has advocated for better education.

Speaking to Talamua, Maulolo denied the allegations.

He said the policy has been there for some time and was to reduce the number of children from other villages registered in the college because of limited space.

As Chairman of the school committee then, he stopped the implementation of the policy and urged the committee to open the opportunity to district children to be educated there.

Maulolo said he met with the school principal yesterday and commended her and teachers for their work.

He said the allegations would go against his principles as a teacher and educator.