The Community View

Samoan welfare worker: Taiva ah Young

Background

Taiva is a welfare worker with the Samoan Advisory Council (SAC). He was educated in Samoa at the South Pacific University. Taiva has worked with SAC for two months and has lived in Australia for four years.

SAC was set up in 1987. It operates from the Addison Road Community Centre at Marrickville.

This organisation is concerned with all issues relating to Samoans, eg:

Social Security, Immigration, Youth issues, Education

The SAC does not have an Education Officer. However, Taiva in his position as Welfare Officer deals with education matters throughout NSW.

Observations

The SAC is very interested in education matters and in particular the low retention rate of Samoan children in our schools. Taiva identified the main reasons for these low retention rates.

Many Samoans are in low income brackets. Therefore whenever possible both members of the family will work. This means that when the students return from school in the afternoon they are free to roam the streets. Children here are not receiving the same family guidance as those who remain in Samoa.

Furthermore, low income families have more domestic problems. This means that the home environment is not conducive to study. In response to this, the SAC is currently setting up a tutoring service in the evening to assist students.

Taiva believes that Samoans "dont have the educational capacity to achieve because of the different education system at home". He stated that the education system in Samoa was one where learning was done through the memory system. For example, a teacher would stand at the front of the class saying 2x2 = 4; 2x3 = 6 etc. with the students repeating what the teacher had said. Taiva said our system requires analysis of information not just the ability to memorise it. Our educational system is based around logical thought and analytical thought. Samoans have a major problem with this as it is new to them. Students drop out as they believe "I cant do this". There is also a high drop out rate of Samoan students in universities for the same reasons. Taiva considered the difference in learning styles to be the most important factor in contributing to low retention rates.

However there are other cultural differences which can cause problems for Islanders in Australia. Traditionally Samoans have a strict code of discipline. This does not seem to be the case with most Australians. The Islanders believe that without these sanctions their children will not concentrate or behave as well, hence they will be disruptive at school.

Taiva recounted the story of a recent incident involving the Department of Education and the punishment of a Samoan student by his family. Apparently the Department of Education wanted to sue the boys parents because of injuries to the student. The SAC became involved and explained to the Department that this was the way that Samoans did things.

Conclusions and recommendations

Taiva suggested the following as means of improving the retention rates:

a) there needs to be a balance between analytical approach and memory work in the classroom. Under the present system Samoan children dont do that well and they are overcome by feelings of inadequacy. If there was more memory based work they would feel more capable;

b) more homework should be given. More homework would mean that students would be less likely to roam the streets. If homework was given, it would have to be followed up with punishment for those who failed to complete the tasks;

c) more consultation between teachers, schools and parents is needed. If the parents do not speak English, teachers should contact organisations such as SAC.

Taiva stressed that the SAC is there to be used.

Any teacher who might need some answers regarding education and Samoans, or any other issue relating to Samoans, should contact SAC on 569 7633.