Timely Financial Support for Students from the $1m District Development Project

By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, SAMOA -18 March 2024: Three more districts have prioritized the allocation of funds to pay for the districts senior students school fees through the Government’s $1m District Development Project.

On priority are students taking courses at the National University of Samoa (NUS), and the University of the South Pacific (USP) Alafua Campus.

Due to time pressure on students fees, Faleata 2 have allocated $160,000 meant for office operations to pay for the districts’ students school fees for both universities with the intention of deducting the sum from their allocation of $420,000 for projects when received.

“Last year we had a small number of parents that applied for school fees and we managed to pay off all, but this year, there is quite a long list of applications so we want to ensure that every student is catered for,” said the District Council Deputy Chairperson Muaausa Toleafoa Fiona Uili Talouli.

The Faleata 2 Deputy Chairperson, Muaausa Toleafoa Fiona Uili Talouli (5th from right) with parents of the students whose fees are paid by the District Council.

Another district, Faleata 4 sent a list of all their students at both universities confirming that their fees will be paid through the district funds.

Last week, A’ana Alofi 2 that had to overcome many internal issues, allocated $17,488 of the initial funds paid under the $1m District Development Project, for 9 of their university students school fees.

The Chairman for the A’ana Alofi 2 Council, Member of Parliament Aiono Tile commended the Government and the projects Steering Committee for releasing their first million.

He said their priority is to pay for the school fees of the future generation of their district.

Atonio Falealili who spoke on behalf of the parents said the assistance and support of the $1m District Development Project was timely.

‘It has helped us tremendously and has eased the burden for us, and we cannot thank the Council and Government enough for this timely support and we pray that we continue to receive such blessings,” he said.

After having to deal with so many internal issues, the Chairman of the A’ana Alofi 2 Council, Member of Parliament Aiono Tile and his Committee are moving forward and allocated $17,488 of the initial $1m Tala project funds to pay for the districts university students fees.