SAMOA SCHOOLS INNOVATION IN LITERACY, NUMERACY and SCIENCE .
PRESS RELEASE:
The Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture’s original Literacy and Numeracy Program administered in 2014 to 2016, was eventually improved in 2017 to include Science in the program. The intent is to promote the integration of literacy, numeracy and scientific literacy in the teaching and learning experiences in schools.
The Program’s main goals are to encourage students in both primary and secondary schools to be innovative in their approach to learning. SSILNaS aims to inspire and motivate students to apply their life experiences to their everyday learning to promote creativity, critical thinking, problem solving and a range of other important learning skills.
This year 2021, the educational activities planned for the competitions is more focused on ENVIRONMENT (SIOSIOMAGA), linking students’ environment to classrooms learning.
To unpack the major THEME, the concept of “LEARN GREEN, LIVE GREEN “ is chosen as green replicates the color of life, renewal, nature, environment and energy.
The theme aligns to “environment” that is conducive to learning , instilling the importance of students commitment to preserve, conserve and save Samoa’s depleting natural resources. More so, it will instill motivation and students interests, so they can make informed decisions in the future.
The fight against climate change and other environmental issues affecting our livelihoods, homes, villages and our nation makes this year’s theme a relevant contribution to this global fight. The main goal of this year’s SSILNaS therefore is to educate through Literacy, Numeracy and Science activities the importance of our siosiomaga for students to contribute to make better improved decisions about saving their own for the future.
The program this year has started with National activities that were due in on Friday 13 of August at the Ministry. The national activities are Essay writing, Poem writing and Journal writing in both Samoan and English languages, and Mathematics V-Maps and Financial Literacy Posters. All activities are for both primary and secondary levels, except the Financial Literacy Posters.
The program will continue with Zone Competitions to be held from the 23 August to 3 September. Schools around the country are divided into seven (7) Zones with 5 in Upolu and 2 in Savaii.
The schools, both primary and secondary, will compete at their designated Zone for activities such as Book Character, Read Aloud, Skits, Maths Mental Strategies, Maths Rap, Science Projects and Science/Geography Quiz.
The Zone Competitions will be held as per schedule below:
Zone 1 – Anoama’a 2, Lepa/Lotofaga and Aleipata school districts, at Lotofaga Primary School on 23 August
Zone 2- Falealili and Lefaga/Safata school districts, at Sataoa Primary School on 24 August
Zone 3- Faleata and Sagaga at Faleata school districts, at Faleata College on 25 August
Zone 4- Vaimauga West and Anoama’a 1/Vaimauga East school districts, at Leififi College on 26 August
Zone 5- Aana 1 and Aana 2 school districts, at Faleasiu Primary School on 27 August
Zone 6- Itu Asau 1 & 2, Savaii Sisifo and Palauli school districts at Palauli College on 31 August
Zone 7- Itu o tane 1 &2 and Faasaleleaga 1 & 2 school districts, at Puapua Primary School on 1 September.
The SSILNaS program this year includes a day of activities for the Early Childhood Education (ECE) students. This one day of activities for ECE will be held on 3rd of September at Tuanaimato Gym and Pool. This activity is a collaboration between MESC and the National Council of ECE schools.
The SSILNaS program this year also includes TVET showcase and markets at each Zone to display and sell products that secondary students who study vocational subjects, have produced or made by themselves in classes, such as clothes, carvings, arts, foods, and more.
Parents and communities are welcome at Zone Competitions.