Nabilah S
This week, the Palauli 1 district was the beneficiary of a generous donation of 36 brand-new laptops, courtesy of the Pacific Code literacy project. The recipients included Gaga’emalae Primary School, Palauli 1 College, and the After School Study Centres in the Situ and Foailalo villages.
The laptops were officially handed over by Togisala Tony Sua Leota, the Chief Operations Officer of BlueWave Wireless, during a ceremony held at the Siutu EFKS Hall on Monday, 13 November 2023.
Togisala acknowledged several key partners’ collective effort and dedication in this initiative, including PacifiCode NZ, Lighthouse Australia, Talamua Media, and E3 Samoa Trust. He highlighted the vital role of technology in enhancing the skills of teachers and students, particularly in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). He also outlined the project’s overarching aim, which is to better equip the youth and students of the district in their educational pursuits and to prepare them for future employment opportunities.
The Member of Parliament for Palauli No1 District and Minister for MWCSD, Hon. Mulipola Anarosa Ale-Molio’o, attended the event. The Minister expressed deep gratitude towards PacifiCode for their commitment to fortifying the education system against external disruptions through such technological aids. She noted the government’s full support for these initiatives, especially considering the impact of recent events like the measles outbreak and the COVID-19 pandemic on schools and students.
“The school closures had a profound effect on our students, and we need to ensure they are well-prepared for the future, as their success reflects directly on our nation’s economic development and sustainability,” said the Minister.
Excitement about the new technology was palpable among the students. Ms Gloria Oloitaua, a Commerce student at Palauli No 1 College, expressed her eagerness to use the laptops, particularly to enhance her Excel skills and research purposes in preparation for her exams.
Togisala also announced that the laptop distribution was part of the second phase of the project, with a third phase, named the “685 Project,” scheduled to commence in March 2024. This next phase is set to distribute a remarkable 685 laptops to schools and teachers who have completed digital literacy training under the first phase of the Pacific Code digital literacy project.
