EDUCATION IN SAMOA.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18365, 24 April 1925, Page 12

EDUCATION IN SAMOA.

NATIVES ANXIOUS TO LEARN

(SPXCIIL TO "THE PM9B.")

AUCKLAND. April 23

''The aim of the whole of the education system of Samoa- is not to turn out students, but to turn out useful citizens, and for that reason technical instruction is goincr band in hand with academical instruction," state:l 51 r W. A. Foster, who arrived in Auckland by the Tofua after four years' service in education work at "Samoa. Tor two years Mr Foster was headmaster of Malil'a School, at Apia, and for tho remaining two years ho was headmaster of the district school at Yaipouli, on the. island of Savaii. He has been transferred to Taranaki district. "The natives are extremely keen to have an English education and it is oaly possible to give it to a very small proportion of those who desire it," continued Mr Foster. "Funds aro limited, and accommodation will not permit a white education of natives on any very large scale. Education in the vernacular, however, is extremely complete, due, mainly, to the efforts of missions, who educate- their ownpeople. The four leading missions aro the London Mission Society and Methodist, Roman Catholic and Mormon Missions. They do splendid work and run their own denominational schools and teachers. Certain of the teachers are handed over to the Administration, where thev beconio acquainted with modern English ways of teaching and when, after a course, they go back to their schools, they aro paid by tho Education Department." Discussing the ability of the natives to learn, Mr Foster stated that they had wonderful memories. They recog msed also the value of education and its relation to the serious business of life. Every Samoan> was also a born musician and music figured largely in the native school curriculum. "If four part songs are taught you will ■find that tho bovs who sing the tenor on one dav will he singing tho alto on the next,'' added Mr Foster, Expupils of Government native schools were already holding positions of responsibility in, the Post Office and other Government Departments, in hospitals and in schools as pupil teachers. Technical instruction included wireless, carpentry, engineering and plumbing, all taught by experts. There were also tradesmen _ who gave their services gratuitously in the welfare of the natives. Agriculture was a prominent subject and all agricultural erihodls were self-supporting fin ttho matter of food. Mr Foster was impressed with native students. They were an excellent type and ever ready to lea.rn.