NEWSPAGE 01 October
2010

(Photo: Creative New Zealand)

(Photos: eventpolynesia.com)

SAMOA: Tsunami candle light service at Lalomanu hospital
Source: eventpolynesia.com

When the devastating tsunami hit Samoa last year, thirty five nurses from New Zealand, three from Australian and a couple from USA with links to Samoa responded immediately. All gave up their annual leave, with most paying their own airfares to return home to help in the wake of the tragedy.

Some of these Samoa Health Mission volunteers from New Zealand, Australia and USA are back, this time to pay tribute to the many unsung heroes of the tsunami. The SHM members will be marching along side Lalomanu hospital staff in the dawn procession at Lalomanu.

SHM Chairperson Togiaioatua Vaifagaloa said, “We have a strong connection to Lalomanu district hospital. Most of us were assigned there to relieve local nurses who were working long hours attending to tsunami victims, some of whom had suffered personal losses and yet were still turning up to work in support of their other colleagues.”

At sunset (between 6pm - 7pm) today, a special candlelight service will be held at Lalomanu Hospital organised by the volunteer nurses.

According to Lalomanu nurse leader Tautala, “This is an opportunity to also bless the Lalomanu hospital ground where most of the bodies were brought to for identification before transporting them to the morgues in Apia. I’m sure the candle light service will bring closure to many unsung heroes both locally and overseas that helped Samoa in its time of need.”

Photo Captions: Samoa Health Mission volunteers in action during the Tsunami Samoa 2009.
 

(Photo: Western Association of Schools and Colleges)

AMERICAN SAMOA: ASCC faculty participate in WASC assessment workshop
Source: American Samoa Community College Press Release

To most of us, the word “assessment” simply means making a judgment or a estimation, but in the world of education, the word refers to a broad evaluation system crucial to achieving and maintaining standards of academic quality. “The primary purpose of assessment is to improve student learning,” wrote assessment expert Linda Suskie. “The context for assessment could be any type of activity designed to promote student learning, including academic programs, academic support services, or student affairs programs. Results from assessment can provide insights into student learning and help determine areas of strength and areas for specific improvements.”

As part of its stated goal of establishing a “Culture of Assessment,” the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) regularly holds assessment workshops designed to support institutions under its auspices. A group of eight faculty members from the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) recently returned from one such workshop held last weekend in Anaheim, California. The ASCC group included Sonny Leomiti of the Teacher Education Department, Siamaua Ropeti of the English Language Institute, Ionatana Fa’asavalu of Community & Natural Resources, Math instructor Tunufa’i Leiato, Michael Leau of the Trades & Technology Department, Criminal Justice instructor Dennis Fuimaono, Evile Feleti of the Samoan Studies Department, and Academic Counselor Mark Mageo.

Over two days, workshop participants explored the topics of Assessing General Education; Assessing the Major; Assessing the Co-Curriculum; Developing and applying rubrics; Analyzing student learning; and Improving curriculum and pedagogy through a sequence of assessment-related tasks which they can subsequently apply to their campus or program needs. Individuals from each participating institution worked as a team on their tasks, but also attended a variety of plenary and break-out sessions where they could gather information and share experiences with participants from other campuses.

Members of the ASCC group reported with enthusiasm on the content of the workshop. “I was intrigued that the emphasis in assessment is not so much on accreditation, although it is a crucial component, but on synthesized learning; pulling together of faculty and students to increase and support learning,” said Ropeti. “This synthesis increases connectivity of different courses, alignment of student learning outcomes, student engagement, and successful faculty repertoire. Assessment is not an isolated entity but an integrated element in the curriculum. Faculty in diverse departments at ASCC can utilize an assessment based curriculum to view a holistic mapping of their courses, develop outcomes that are relevant, initiate pertinent student evaluations, and finally close the loop at different levels. The essence of Assessment is simply to help students learn better and make sense out of what they’re learning.”

“The conference was excellent for us because we were exposed to information that will help us understand our constant involvement with assessment at ASCC,” recalled Feleti. “One concept introduced in the sessions was called ‘Open Space’ - It’s a space where teachers continuously hold assessment dialogue. We already do something similar here at ASCC, and I think those of us who attended the conference will propose to the Assessment Committee that we formalize an approach based on this concept. Other than that, we enjoyed listening to assessment experts like Dr. Fred Trapp speak on how we can improve the methodologies to assess ASCC by using the same assessment instruments utilized by other successful institutions.”

Leomiti , who served as the ASCC team leader at the workshop, explained the importance of institutions under WASC participating in this type of training. “Institutions that focus on student centeredness and learning centeredness are better positioned to help their students attain their educational objectives, goals, and outcomes,” he said. “The WASC theme for assessment is ‘Closing the Loop,’ which refers to the processes of gathering data on student learning and using it to define the best teaching practices, and to improve Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) at all levels of curriculum, instruction, and Institutional Planning, with emphasis on achieving the mission of the college. These workshops provide multiple approaches toward assessment, using a network of the best assessment practices from a variety of colleges and universities. I would highly recommend that all faculty members be given the opportunity to attend WASC assessment workshops.”

Those interested in finding out more about assessment resources can visit: http://www.accreditation.uci.edu/assess_resources.html.

Photo Caption: ASCC faculty attending a WASC Assessment Workshop in Anaheim, CA visit with Dr. Frederick Trapp, who came to American Samoa last year as part of a WASC evaluation team. (L-R) Evile Feleti, Ionatana Fa'asavalu, Mark Mageo, Siamaua Ropet, Dr. Trapp, Sonny Leomiti, Michael Leau and Tunufa'i Leiato.
 

(Photo: Fiji Times)

FIJI: 106th annual Fiji Principals Association conference underway
Source: Fiji Times

More than 130 principals from around the country attended the start of the two-day Fiji Principals Association 106th annual conference at the Kshatriya Hall in Labasa yesterday.

Speaking on the theme "Educational diversity and national development", University of the South Pacific vice chancellor Professor Rajesh Chandra said a diverse curriculum was one that provided a holistic educational experience preparing learners for all aspects of modern life.

"A diverse curriculum is one that presents a wide variety of educational experiences in order to develop in students a far-reaching range of knowledge and skills in recognition of the fact that there are many types of learners with varying needs and interests," he said.

Professor Chandra said the application of the concept educational diversity to the curriculum would produce multi-skilled youths who could contribute positively to national development through participation in the workforce.

"These youths will also have the knowledge, skills and the drive to start their own business, a well-developed understanding of the world around them, and a desire to be active in their communities," he said.

Professor Chandra said principals played a special role in the creation of the curriculum, the delivery of education and the creation of an environment of excellence.

"Where the existing curriculum does not address the learning needs of groups of your students, you must try to change it through curriculum reform.

"If your school lacks the resources for students to learn using ICT (information technology), you must seek these resources.

"The full use of ICT is crucial to adequately preparing students for modern jobs and future development."

Photo Caption: Members of Fiji Principals Association during their conference at the Kshatriya Hall in Labasa.
 

VANUATU: Students mark Sanma Day
Source: Vanuatu Daily Post

Sanma Province which boasts the biggest island and accommodates the second biggest town has been referred to as a garden.

In a presentation on Sanma Day organised by the Sanma Students Association at the Vanuatu Institute of Teachers’ Education, Mr Jara Bani, Manager of KorVan Mission Centre of Malo Island, said the majority of the people of Sanma were subsistence farmers and gardening was something they mastered best of all.

To support his statement, Reserve Bank staff, Mr Nelson Shem made a presentation and showed figures from the 2007 Agriculture census which revealed that Sanma was very rich in agricultural produce.

Speeches during that gathering revealed that Sanma Province has developed a lot over the past years in tourism businesses and infrastructures such as schools.

Mr Bani said it was time for the people to change their mental attitude.

He said: “Development must be a priority but the government is concentrating more on the 20% of population rather than providing service delivery to the 80% of people living in the rural areas.”

Bani called upon the young people of Sanma that, “youth empowerment is important”.

“Young people of Sanma must participate fully in developing Sanma because they are the key agents for peace, unity and development. They must feel they own Sanma but not strangers in their own province,” Mr Bani said:

The Presbyterian Church leader also urged his people to bear in mind that their Province was founded on Christian values, stating that Santo was named the “Land of the Holy Spirit” by Captain De Queiros in 1606.

Mr Bani gave out some challenging messages, and one of them was the selling of land. He admitted some of their beautiful islands have been sold already, “all in the name of investment”, but appealed to those who were present to make sure not to repeat the same mistake.

Mr Bani concluded that many people have planted something on Sanma land, but the people of Sanma must always the “custodian, manager and owner of that garden”. He stressed that whatever is grown in their garden must always “bear good fruit that enhance the development growth in Sanma but not hindrances, and a fruit that will make Sanma prosper”.

Mr Shem also gave a challenging presentation challenging youth, especially students of VITE, by showing the latest results of Sanma students getting scholarships.

He said Sanma has been ranked second last for a number of years now. He also stated some important facts of the progress of Sanma Province and allowed time for them to think and see how they can improve on it.

Vanuatu Ombudsman, Mr Pasa Tosusu was also present and gave a few remarks during the gathering.

Mr Tosusu also appealed to the students to go back to Sanma and educate their people, and acknowledging the Students Association for organising the gathering.

The final speech of the day was given by Mr Toco Mara, Port Vila Town Clerk who also applauded the Sanma students for organising the occasion.

Mr Mara, however, expressed his greatest disappointment because no other Sanma leaders including their representatives in the national council of chiefs, one of who heads the institution.

The outspoken Malo leader said it was the chiefs who should have organised the gathering. There were about 50 people present.
 

WORLDWIDE: New Forum Permanent Representative to WTO
Source: Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Press Release

The Pacific Islands Forum has a new Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) based in Geneva, Switzerland. She is Mrs Aivu Raevo Tauvasa from Papua New Guinea.

Mrs Tauvasa replaces Mr Paulo Kautoke from Tonga.

When announcing the appointment, Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Tuiloma Neroni Slade said Mrs Tauvasa is not new to the Pacific Islands Forum having held the position of Trade Commissioner at the Pacific Islands Trade and Investment Commission in Sydney, Australia until 2008.

“During her time as Trade Commissioner based in Sydney, Mrs Tauvasa managed a range of strategically designed and targeted programmes including the provision of practical support in trade, export, enterprise, tourism and private sector to the Pacific Island Countries,” said Mr Slade.

“Mrs Tauvasa’s experience in the region should assist her in representing the interests of Forum member governments, particularly the Forum Island Countries, at the WTO.”

She holds a Masters in Business Administration from the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida, USA. She takes up her new position next month.