MULIVAI
MARIST BROTHERS PRIMARY SCHOOL,
Apia, Samoa
Enhancing English Language Skills at Mulivai.
The
story of the Marist Mulivai school precedes the official 1888 start by some
43 years. The first Marist Brother to work in Samoa arrived in 1845, as an assistant
to the first Marist Missionaries. In 1870 the Brothers were requested to take
charge of a school for the training of local catechists, the school officially
opening the following year. Two years later an English school was opened, along
with a school for Samoans. During 1877, with a considerable drop in the rolls
on account of warring factions among the Samoans, who were fighting to decide
who should be king of Samoa, the schools were closed and the Brothers returned
to Sydney.
The Brothers returned to Apia in 1888,
this time to stay, despite the politic
al
turmoil in and around Apia, with the consequent tensions and eventual civil
war. Two years after the Brothers began their school, the German flag was raised
over Western Samoa and the Stars and Stripes over American Samoa. By 1925 the
separate schools, one for Samoans and one for Part Europeans, were amalgamated
and the roll continued to grow. Today, after peaking at around 1500 students
quite some years ago, then roll stands at 850. The school remains an all boys
school, catering mainly for catholic students, but open to all denominations.
There are 30 teachers at the school five of whom are Marist Brothers. Brother
Kevin Hore, who has served in Marist schools in Fiji, Tonga, Kiribati and various
parts of New Zealand, is the current Principal.
One of the critically perceived needs of the school
is the enhancement of English Language skills. The school has set out to build
up shared reading resources for the junior school level and is seeking a more
advanced level of challenge for the students in the senior level of the school.
What is NEEDED….
A 1C level Reading Laboratory available from Reed Pacific in Auckland. Access
to this form of Language development will give students at the year 7 and 8
levels, graded broad based practice in reading, comprehension, grammar and listening
skills.
What you can DO…
Around 1,600 Samoan Tala, (equivalent to approx. NZD800) will enable the purchase
of the required Reading Laboratory Kit, and cover freight costs to Samoa (as
excess luggage).
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