Parents are urged to ensure their children’s immunization are up to date before the new school year begins.
At a Department of Health press conference on Tuesday regarding the dengue fever outbreak, Deputy Director of Education Athena Mauga announced that registration for ECE, elementary, and high schools opened this week. Teachers and staff will begin the new school year on August 18, and schools will open on August 25.
Mauga advised parents to make sure their children’s immunization records are current. She explained that, in the past, the department has allowed students whose immunization were not fully updated to remain in class, with the understanding that parents would follow through in a timely manner. However, when the Department of Health conducts immunization checks, it is often discovered that some required shots are still missing.
Mauga also shared updates on DOE efforts to improve school facilities during the summer break. She reported that power washing of all school facilities on Tutuila and Manu’a is nearly complete.
In addition, DOE has set up a Safety and Health Division to address unsafe and unhealthy conditions in classrooms and campuses,
According to Mauga, enrollment in public schools typically reaches around 10,000 students annually, including more than 800 in ECE, over 5,000 in elementary schools, and around 3,000 in high schools.
