By Martha Taumata Faavae
Students of the Puapua Village Primary School moving up to college education next year are under no illusion of any easy time learning at that level.
The Avele College principal for many years, Matafeo Reupena, knows all about the challenges of village students at a higher level of learning and he told them about it.
Matafeo was the invited keynote speaker at the primary school graduation in Savaii last week.
“ You are on your way to college and the pride of the village name rides on your shoulders the same as students from other villages who are as smart as you are,” Matafeo imparted.
He also placed strong emphasis on parents that the children should be their priority as the future of the families.
Success will extend the benefits to the church and the beyond the village to a wider district community.
“But to do that the children should be educated in a better school environment, good classrooms, assembly hall, toilets and more.”
After taking note that the school hall is not tiled he promised to gift a new tiled floor for the school hall and rebuild better toilets for the kids.
Matafeo donated 24 trophies for the schools prize giving after a request from school committee.
“A healthy educated child translates into a healthy educated country that will continue to grow and progress well.”
The college principal is hoping to make the transition into a political career by standing as a candidate in the 2021 general elections.
He is one of three candidates from the Fa’asaleleaga No. 5 electoral constituency that included the village of Puapua.
“I am a son of Puapua, I grew up in the village until l left in 1968, my wife is also a native of Puapua.”
Matafeo is going against the Associate Minister of the Ministry of the Prime as the current sitting member.
A third candidate, Lui Vance Lameko is also in the running and he too donated to the Puapua graduation 5 trophies, school bags, reading books, water bottles and paints.
He did not attend the graduation nor did the Associate Minister Peseta Vaifou.
Puapua Primary School has a roll of 124 students and 7 teachers.