TVET (Technical & Vocational Education and Training)

Our TVET Area Coordinator from Auckland NZ, Ameet Kumar, spent three days at Vaiola College and two days at Pesega College in Apia.  He came for various reasons including setting up Microsoft Office Systems (MOS) offline so that we are not dependent on the sketchy internet.  Also, he facilitated discussions with administration, TVET teachers and us missionaries around SQA (Samoa Qualifications Authority) alignment.  The goal is to implement classes meeting SQA standards by 2019 which will require a lot more planning and strategy for courses and scheduling.  Each of our schools will have a stand alone TVET Institute; thereby, certifying students with credentials enabling them to enter the workforce after high school or to continue pursuit of TVET higher education.  Such areas of expertise may include Carpentry, Tourism & Hospitality, Cookery, Automotive, and Welding.  Currently, Vaiola is not equipped for Automotive and Welding.  Ameet's help and inspiration was really appreciated.

Our group meeting with Ameet.

Vice Principal Tufuga who oversees TVET for the school.

Lafao, Head of TVET Department

Ameet Kumar, Area TVET Coordinator

Our ITEP classes this term are nearly to a close.  The new administrative class, Leadership and the School Principal, is underway.

Sometimes the Hospitality classes make and deliver food samples to us to critique.  This week we enjoyed fresh fruit parfaits.

Friday morning we judged the impromptu speeches of Level 3 (2^nd grade).  They were more challenged and part of it may have been the ability at that young age to think and speak their thoughts in English.  They gave it a good go.

Below is a video of all the students singing "I Am A Child of God", 

first in English and then in Samoan:

Once again Ron announced the winners.

Friday after early out, staff participated in “wellness” activities on the malae (grass court area).  As assigned teams, we started with a relay at stations around the campus.  After that, a couple of teams played  soccer while the other two teams played volleyball; then we switched.  Afterwards they served niu, oranges, apples, and sliced bread.  Fortunately we were not in direct sun; it had somewhat clouded over and we had a lot of fun together! (too busy playing to take pictures)

We showed Coco for movie night; the girls enjoyed the animation.  Since both of us were a bit under the weather we stayed close to home this weekend.  We ran into Sister Zhu at the store on Saturday.  She is the mission president's secretary and is of Chinese descent from New Zealand.  She has been amazing reaching out to the Chinese community with success in her active missionary labors. 

A couple of cloud pictures from this week:

Happy Birthday this past week to a daughter, a son, and two grandchildren!

Love to All!