By Staff Writer
Gatoloaifa’ana Ms. Tilianamua Afamasaga to be conferred honourary doctorate by the National University of Samoa.
Prominent educator and women leadership advocator, Gatoloaifa’ana Ms. Tilianamua Afamasaga, is caught up in a haze of mixed emotions, by the National University of Samoa decision to confer on her an honourary doctorate.
The academic recognition is to honour her distinguished career contribution and achievements over the years in her field of expertise.
“This is so unexpected, and I’m honoured, humbled and pleased at being appreciated for my services and contributions,” Gatoloai reacted when asked by Newsline Samoa.
“To finally achieve a dream when the time to do so has come and gone is a blessing that is not ours to give but God.”
The 75 year old was educated at Samoa College, Hamilton Girls High School, and Christchurch Teachers College where she gained a Dip. Teaching in 1971.
After teaching in Samoa for five years, she attended Macquarie University in Australia where she obtained her BA Dip-Ed in 1978.
She came back to Samoa and taught at the Secondary Teachers College and in 1992 she went back to Macquarie University where she obtained her Master of Arts degree in Teacher Education in 1993.
Earlier in her career as an educator, she taught at Samoa College and Vaipouli College.
This was followed by service as a leader Secondary Teachers’ College and enabled amalgamation with the National University of Samoa and established the Faculty of Education in July 1997.
She became the founding Dean of the Faculty of Education from July 1997 to 2005).
By the time she left, there were four (4) programmes taught at FOE.
She also led the NUS Oloamanu Centre for Professional Development and Continuing Education from January 2006 to June 2012. In her second year as Director, the Samoa in Country Training Program (ICTP) was transferred from NZ management to the Oloamanu Centre. This program had a $1.75 million annual budget for capacity building in the private, NGO and public sub sectors.
Her work has gained her various memberships in many professional associations including:
Samoa National Teachers Association where she was President 1995-2012
Council of Pacific Association of Teacher Educators (regional) where she was President (2003 – 2006),
Vice President 2007-2012, and President again (2012-2016)
Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management (2006-present)
Samoa Institute of Directors 2006-present
Founding member of the Rethinking Education in the Pacific for Pacific People by Pacific
People (REIPP for short) – a consortium of Pacific educators who continue to interrogate educational development in the Pacific for relevance, effectiveness, and quality for Pacific people.
This has resulted in the Vaka Pasifiki School of Thought which has become an academic discipline studied by many Pacific scholars today.
Samoa Teachers’ Council 2019-present.
Gatoloai continues to carry out consultancies in education and training, advocacy work in women leadership and championing the welfare of workers in the context of workers organizations today.
More recently, the government appointed Gatoloai to be a commissioner at the Public Service Commission.
The National University of Samoa will confer the honorary doctorate on Gatoloai at this Thursday’s graduation at the Le Papaigalagala Campus.