Piu Scholars win Inaugural Samoa Digital STEM Games

Apia, Samoa – 12 November 2024 – The Primary School students team from the remote inland village of Piu in the Falealili district has won the championships of the inaugural digital STEM games held at the Palauli Primary School last Saturday.

Seven primary schools took part in the STEM digital games as an educational approach to learning and development that integrates the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The games are part of a development project coordinated and run by local tech company Bluewave Wireless with partners Code Avengers, LiteHaus International, Talamua Media and E3 Samoa Trust that provide connectivity and computer laboratories to rural primary schools to lift digital literacy among young Samoans.

Through STEM, students develop key skills including problem solving, creativity, critical analysis, teamwork, independent thinking, initiative, communication and digital literacy.

STEM is important as continual advances in technology are changing the way students learn, connect and interact every day. Skills developed by students through STEM provide them with the foundation to succeed at school and beyond.

Bluewave Wireless Director Malaeoleaitu Togisala Leota says the project now in its third year, targets rural and remote schools and started in Savaii in 2020 when remote learning platforms using connectivity failed during the measles epidemic and the Covid pandemic.

Using Starlink satellite connectivity, the project has been adopted by certain village pastors, such as the winning Piu Scholars that is led by the village pastor Reverend Reupena Leau. Competing study centres such as the Solosolo Study Centre run by the Church of Latter Day Saints and the Siufaga Seventh Day Adventist Primary are part of the efforts to address digital literacy at the primary level.

Speaking at the end of the competition, Palauli Primary School Principal, Lagaaia Telea Taaau fielded a challenge to other church pastors and village leaders to take the lead in supporting the program to uplift digital literacy around the country for young students.

“This program is certainly beyond my generation,” said Lagaaia, “but we all need to work together and support it for our young generations who are the future and the direction where technology is playing a critical part in their lives and our future,” he stated.

Reverend Reupena Leau supported Lagaaia’s vision saying being church minister of a remote and very small village of only seven families and less than 80 people, connectivity is critical. He challenged the Government and service providers as their village continue to face daily difficulties in making worthy online connections.

He then welcomed the competition to be hosted by his village next year.

Official results of the inaugural Samoa Digital STEM Games held Saturday, 9 November 2024 at the Palauli Primary School, Savai’i.

1. Piu Scholars, (EFKS), Principal: Rev. Reupena Leau – Piu, Falealili, Upolu.
2. Palauli Primary School, Principal: Lagaaia Telea Taaau – Vaitoomuli, Palauli, Savai’i.
3. Samata-Uta Primary School, Principal: Polini Pine – Samata-Uta, Savai’i.

Consolation Prizes
Solosolo Study Centre (LDS), Principal: Epikopo Tavita – Solosolo, Anoama’a, Upolu.
Gagaemalae Primary School, Principal: Fonomaaitu Kwan Falute – Satuiatua, Savai’i.
Siufaga 7th Day Adventist Primary, Principal: Ta’aga Autagavaia  -Siufaga, Savaii.
Auala Primary School, Principal: Pauulu Va – Auala, Vaisigano, Savai’i.