THEME: LALAGA – WEAVING
Someone wrote somewhere that ‘the greatest device for more creativity and innovation is a
curious mind’. SSILNaS is all about creativity, innovation, critical thinking and being able to
have that urge to explore and discover answers to problem. This is the message that has
been driving the ministry’s SSILNaS event every year. It is the challenge for students to be
more interested in what they learn in the classroom and connect their new knowledge to their
everyday life experiences.
The Chief Executive Officer of MESC Afioga Afamasaga Dr. Karoline Afamsaga-Fuata’i on
Tuesday 20 th October 2020 reminded students and teachers about the importance of the
SSILNaS theme ‘Lalaga’ (Weaving) this year. Afamasaga challenged the students to weave
the skills they learn in the classroom together with what they have learnt already so that their
goals of the future are successfully achieved.
This year most of the activities for SSILNaS were conducted at the Cluster Level.
The competition for each cluster was led by School Inspectors and schools principals
in collaboration with MESC SSILNaS committee. Throughout each activity, the students
depicted the interweaving of numeracy, literacy and scientific skills through drama, book
character, science projects, impromptu speeches, problem solving, mental strategies and vee
map. It showcased the great improvement of students’ creativity and innovation in the
Sciences, Numeracy and Literacy. SSILNaS also highlighted the strengths of students in the
area of TVET subjects especially Music and Performing Arts. Students’ talents came out
strongly when they transformed the poems they created into rap songs.
GOVERNMENT OF SĀMOA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, SPORTS & CULTURE.
The highlight for SSILNaS this year at the Cluster Level was witnessing the strong
partnership between the school and its community. Parents rose to the challenge to support
the learning of students by providing banners, props, making their costumes and visual aids
for students’ performances. Typically for Samoan parents some of them participated in their
children’s act on the stage.
Another interesting and challenging part of the SSILNaS even this year was conducting the
National Competition differently. All categories were opened to all students and schools.
The National competition was based on 4 categories.
Design a Logo for SSILNaS competition–.
Writing Competition
Letter to the Editor
SSILNaS environment
These were due on the 23 rd of October 2020. More than 200 entries for each category were
received by the Ministry and the MESC SSILNaS committee are currently working on
marking and scoring each entry.
School Inspectors, principals and teachers will be notified of the date and venue for the Prize
Giving.
MESC acknowledges with deep appreciation the kind support of the School Inspectors,
principals, teachers, parents and school committees in organising our cluster celebrations
this year.
The Samoa Electric Power Corporation conveys its sincere apologies to all our valued customers, businesses
and partners for the power blackout on Monday evening, 2nd November 2020, experienced by the whole of
the Upolu Island at exactly 5.28pm.
We also wish to apologise to our valued customers for the delayed information on the Blackout. Given the
need to thoroughly investigate the cause of the blackout, the prolonged release of the information below
is to assure all data obtained is accurate and sufficient for our general public’s information and to make
sure the Corporation puts in-place appropriate measures, to rectify the problem from happening again.
The Blackout was caused by the LOSS OF GENERATION capacity from our Lalomauaga hydro power station.
This rapidly escalated into supply-demand imbalance and eventually led to total system collapse.
The event began when Lalomauga Hydro tripped from a technical fault causing loss of power generation
from Lalomauaga and Taelefaga hydro stations. The two online Fiaga generators responded to recover the
loss of power supply but all reached full load capacity and unable to sustain system stability.
EPC continue to review its protection coordination to make sure we can identify and isolate areas under
fault condition as quickly as possible.
Power however, was restored for the whole of Upolu by 7.48pm on Monday evening.
Again we apologize for the inconvenience caused and we thank the public for its patience and continuous
support while EPC worked to restore power to all businesses and homes.
