OPENING OF THE NEW ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON SCHOOL BUILDING

SAMOA, October 2 - KEYNOTE Speech by the Minister of Education and Culture, Aiono Alec Ekeroma [Friday 03rd October 2025]

Today marks a milestone not just for Rober Louis Stevensons School but for Samoa’s education system. This new primary school building represents more than concrete and classrooms; it embodies hope, opportunity and our collective investment in the future.

I commend the RLSS Trust Management Board for your vision and dedication. Quality infrastructure creates quality learning environments and you have delivered exactly that for our students.

To the parents and donors who contributed to this project; your generosity speaks volumes about our Samoan values of supporting education and community development. Donations like yours make dreams become reality.

Our new government is committed to strengthening education across Samoa. We recognise that every child deserves access to safe, modern learning facilities, whether in urban Apia or our rural villages.

This building at RLSS is an example of what can be achieved through partnership between private institutions, communities and government support. As we move forward, we will continue fostering these partnerships because education is a shared responsibility.

Our Ministry will work tirelessly to ensure that infrastructure development goes hand-in-hand with quality teaching, updated curricula and support for our educators who shape your minds daily.

To the students who will learn in these new classrooms; this building is yours. Treasure it. Respect it. But more importantly, make the most of the opportunities it provides.

Your education is the foundation for Samoa’s future. Study hard, dream big and remember that these walls are here to support your journey toward excellence.

To the RLSS, thank you for this wonderful invitation and for allowing me to share this special moment with you. May this building witness countless success stories, inspire generations of learners, and stand as a testament to what we can achieve when we invest in education.

I am honored to officially declare that this new RLSS Primary School Building is now open. May it serve our community well for many years to come.

Soifua ma ia manuia.

TATALAINA ALOAIA O LE FALE A’OGA FOU A LE A’OGA TULAGALUA A ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON

SAUNOAGA a le afioga i le Minisita o Aoga ma Aganuu ia Aiono Alec Ekeroma [Aso Faraile 03 Oketopa 2025]

Lau Susuga ile Ta’ita’i o le Sauniga, Rev. Seilala Luamanuvae,

Afifio Pa’ia Fa’alemalo, Pa’ia Fa’aleatunu’u ma Mamalu Fa’aletalalelei,

Afio le Taitaifono ma le Komiti Faafoe o le tatou A’oga.

Susuga le Pulea’oga ma le Aiga Faiaoga, Matua, fa’apea alo ma fanau a’oga.

Malo lava le soifua maua. Malo le lagi e mama.

Ua mae’a ona momoli le tatou taulaga fa’afetai i le Atua, e ala i le sauniga ua mavae o le taeao. Faafetai atu i le Taitai o le Sauniga mo le upu folafola o le Talalelei, ua faatō ai manū aua lenei galuega aemaise o alo ma fanau o le atunu’u o le a utuvai i lenei laumua. O le tatalo, ia saga faatumu e le Atua le utu aua le upu ma le mau, aua lona finagalo ma le vala’auina.

Fa’afetai atu i le Taitaifono ma le Komiti mo le avanoa ua vala’aulia ai le tatou Malo e fai se molimau e tusa ma lenei galuega fou.

O le fa’afetai ma le fa’amua i le Atua, ina ua tau lau o le tatou Komiti faapea le tatou Laumua nei aua lenei galuega tele. E lē o toe faigofie nei aso, peita’i o le galulue fa’atasi ma le loto gātasitasi ua tino ai la outou tatalo sa fau i le ao fau i le po. E mafua nei taumafaiga uma, ina ia tini taunu’u alo ma fanau nei i se lumana’i manuia, lelei ma mautu mo taeao ma le lumana’i.

O le tula’i mai o le tatou Malo, e le o itiiti le fa’amuamua o lo’o ave i a’oa’oga. Auā o le talitonuga o le tatou Malo, a popoto ma atamamai fanau o Samoa e tapena atu nei, e matuā fa’amausilīina le malosi ma le atia’e o latou olaga ma aiga mo taeao ma le lumana’i. E āfua ona mautinoa e tupu nei talitonuga, pe afai e lelei faleaoga, siitia le tomai o faiaoga, mamā ma matagofie le siosiomaga mo le a’oa’oina o le fanau aoga, ma ia malupuipuia le si’osi’omaga e fa’afoe ai galuega mo faiaoga faatasi ma alo ma fanau aoga.

E le puaoa le lagi, i le silafaga a lo tatou Atua i lo outou gapatia ma olooloia, i lo outou tautīgā ma le afuliligi, o manū na e fa’aifoifo i a outou alo ma fanau o le a fa’aaogaina lenei galuega matagofie ma lelei.

Soifua.

October 9, 2025