“Government with the support of mission schools have tolerated irresponsible actions of a few which have become a thorn and a nuisance to our country,” says Samoa’s new minister of Education, Loau Solamalemalo Keneti Sio.
Loau is chairing a ministerial committee to recommend possible solutions to the problem of inter-school violence.
“And it’s high time we tackled the problem head-on by instituting zero tolerance reforms to eliminate the problem from the streets of Apia,” he said.
“I fully support the need for regular public consultations with students, school principals and even parents with education officials and police.”
“But it appears that talking is not helping the situation.”
“To that end, rest assured that government is now working to ensure that those responsible will be dealt with to the full extent of the law.”
The police have now charged 22 students over recent fights involving several schools.
The students are from Avele and Malua Fou College as well as the USP Alafua Campus and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints College at Pesega.
The police spokesperson Su’a Muli’aga Tiumalu said the students have been charged with disorderly behavior, armed with a dangerous weapon and use of electronic devices for the purpose of inciting violence as well as insulting words.
They will appear in court on May 17th.
Police said they arrested them after brawls on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday last week at the old Savalalo market bus terminal and in front of Malua Fou college compound.
In March a series of fights involving pupils from Avele and Saint Joseph’s Colleges and the Don Bosco vocational training school left a teacher in hospital when he was hit by a rock in the forehead.
The Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture closed Avele college temporarily for the protection and security of its students after a brawl which involved students from Avele, Saint Joseph’s and Faleata colleges.
Now the Cabinet has decided to close Avele indefinitely and the principal and teachers have been suspended until further notice.
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