Government to Impose Strict Enforcement of Free Education for the Children of Samoa

2026-02-12 - 07:59

By: Leota Marc Membrere, Gvt Press. The Government has mandated Village School Committees to be brought under the oversight of District Development Councils in a move to try and enforce Samoa’s long-adopted free tuition fee policy. Prime Minister La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Polata’ivao Fosi Schmidt offered a clarification for concerned parents during his weekly press conference. The Prime Minister addressed the ongoing issue where tuition fees are covered, but parents are often called upon to pay registration, or building fees and other costs to local school committees. Under the new Government policies, as stated by the Prime Minister, there will be strict enforcement to ensure that no additional fees are charged to children attending any primary school in the country. La’aulialemalietoa said this aligns with the true intention of the Government, which was to provide free education for children, with the Government funding their school fees. “In the past, when School Committees were formed within schools, they introduced additional charges, including registration fees and fundraising activities,” said the Prime Minister. “The Government does not authorize additional fundraising from children,” the Prime Minister stated. He explained that they are seeing cases where some children are charged up to $150 for registration and this should not be happening. “These practices stem from School Committees creating their own ways of raising funds, and placing the burden on the children,” he added. For this reason, the Government believes it is better for the District Development Council Offices to manage and oversee the needs of each school, and ensure all the relevant costs are met. “At present, School Committees control their own registration processes, but this should no longer be the case. There were also practices such as organizing school days where children provide food on certain days,” he says. “Through the Million Tala Project that has been established, proper kitchens and dining facilities will be built for all schools,” said Laaulialemalietoa. “Parents and School Committees, especially school alumni, will then prepare meals for the children, breakfast and lunch, until the end of the school day.” He says the Government is also encouraging the cultivation of vegetable gardens and fruit trees to support children’s meals, so they grow up healthy. “We aim to reduce children’s excessive consumption of unhealthy processed foods such as chips, soft drinks, ice cakes, and similar items,” he says. “These plans will be carried out throughout the year in schools for the preparation of meals on-site.” The Prime Minister doesn’t want to rely excessively on imported foods, but instead revive traditional foods such as koko alaisa and fa’a’ausi for healthy living. He added that the priority is on the health of the child, for they are the future of Samoa.