The emphasis at the opening of the 2016 2017 school year for public school teachers, administrators, counselors, cooks, bus drivers and janitors was, “Be faithful in small deeds.”
Governor Lolo Moliga drove that message home when he keynoted the opening ceremony at the Tafuna High School Gymnasium this morning.
The governor told the more than 1,00o employees assembled that no matter what the challenges they face in their jobs, they must show compassion in education the children of American Samoa and if they ware faithful in the small tasks they are given they are well prepared to tackle the big tasks.
Play AudioGovernor be faithful
While remarks by Acting Director of DOE Philo Jennings’ pointed to some of the successes by the current administration in education, the governor had another opinion.
He conceded to failures by the government in addressing some of the ongoing challenges faced by teachers every year …for example not having enough learning materials, and text books and not being able to tackle the issue of teachers pay.
Lolo repeated a statement that he has often given about education being everyone’s business.
Play AudioLolo education everyone’s business
The governor acknowledged the new group of World Teach volunteers with a few returning from last year’s group and thanked them for their valuable contribution to the education of American Samoa’s children.
Acting DOE Director Jennings said Governor Lolo did not wait until today to raise teacher salaries …he did this early on his administration where a BA holder now earns $23,000 up from $17,000.
Another achievement which Jennings listed was the Governor’s Adopt-A-School initiative which Jennings said has been a big help to DOE, ensuring schools are safe and sanitary.
Jennings said much can be accomplished by employees working together and asked for everyone’s cooperation and support to accomplish their goals for the new school year.
