Work to get schools ready to open ongoing while DoH continued site visits on Friday

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Department of Health’s Environmental Health Services Division continued its site visits to school buildings on Friday in line with the opening of the new school year next week.

 “We're conducting follow-up on schools this week. 

 “We couldn't do it earlier as contractors and maintenance were still conducting work when we did a follow-up on Aug. 16 starting from the far-west side, but contractors were on the premises and at other schools the contractors / maintenance didn't get there yet, and work in progress was observed,” said the head of the DOH’s Environmental Health Services, Aileen Solaita.

In response to Samoa News questions, Mrs Solaita said they were told that contractors were given until the last week of the August to complete work. 

 “Kitchens were not ready as school lunch staff do not report to their assigned kitchen until today so they asked for a couple of days to get the kitchens ready and therefore, we have set our follow-up for 9/1 and 9/2 to cover all buildings, bathrooms and kitchen.”

Schools already inspected include elementary and high schools, such as Fagalii, Alataua, Pava'iai, Siliaga, Manulele, Voc Tech, Tafuna ECE, Tafuna Elementary and Tafuna High School. They found work in progress, but not yet completed.

Head of the DoH’s Environmental Health Services is unclear as to how many schools are not ready for the new school year as their inspections are still in progress this week.

 “I don't know yet until follow-up is completed on Sept. 2, 2022, Friday,” she said. Mrs Solaita also acknowledged the Department of Education for their new procedure for maintaining the school buildings.

 “Our hats are off to DOE as I believe they have a plan now for maintaining facilities and grounds of schools for this school year and hopefully this will be a start for greater things.”

Mrs Solaita said construction of some of the new classrooms is ongoing and thanked the Administration for pushing those works to move ahead; however, there is still more work yet to be done. 

 “Some have completed new buildings and demolished old ones, some are building new gyms, others are just starting off their new kitchens, etc.  Discrepancies we've seen in the past years and up to now are not new.  

 “The main issue is the maintenance of buildings. We can have new buildings, but if the practice/ mentality is not changed or there is no maintenance plan and accountability to that plan, our new buildings will eventually lead to the same things as the old buildings.   

Another thing, it's everyone's responsibility to look out and make sure if you see something that can be cleaned or easily fixed, by all means, make it happen instead of waiting for it to get damaged, especially now that there will be some new buildings. 

 “Especially when you know your kids will be attending that school, help the DOE to maintain and take care of facilities that our children will be using.”

Last week, the government dedicated a new two-story building at Fagaitua High School, recognized as “Building E,” along with the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a new facility.

Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga said that paramount to the building is what’s inside the building, what will be taught, those who will occupy it, “and how well you will preserve it for future generations.

 “The funding of these new school buildings is from our working population, which includes our mothers and fathers, our sisters and brothers,” the governor said. “I urge you students, faculty, staff, and leaders to see that our facilities will last beyond our years.”

Building E was contracted to FTK Corporation, which is managed by Faamausili Mau Mau Jr. and Tui Faamausili, with a budget of $850,500. Public Works director Faleosina Voigt presented the Certificate of Occupancy to Education director Talauega Dr. Samasoni Asaeli.

Building E is a two-story building consisting of ten classrooms, a Band Room, additional counselors’ offices, accessible ramps and connecting walkways to the other buildings on campus. The English, Social Studies, and Samoan Departments will occupy the new building.