PAGO PAGO TO HOST MAJOR PACIFIC
EDUCATION CONFERENCE By Tauva Esera PAGO PAGO, American Samoa (January
18, 2002 - Samoa News/PINA Nius Online)---American Samoa is expecting
educators from throughout the region to attend the 19th annual Pacific
Educational Conference in July. The conference will be held in the
territory with the theme "Fostering Educational Access Through
Technology." Department of Education Deputy Director of Instructional
Support Services, Dr. Claire Tuia Poumele, said flyers and posters
promoting the conference have been sent throughout the Pacific islands.
The weeklong event will start with a pre-conference on July 22. The
conference itself will be held from the 23rd to the 25th, and a
post-conference will follow on July 26th. Delegations are expected from
the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, (Chuuk,
Kosrae, Pohnpei and Yap), Guam, Hawai'i, the Marshall Islands, Palau,
other Pacific Islands, Asia and the United States. Dr. Poumele said that
this is an event planned and executed by Pacific educators for Pacific
educators. The Pacific Regional Education Lab (PREL) and the American
Samoa Community College are co-sponsoring it. The last time American
Samoa hosted the event was in 1992. Unlike the past two conferences
hosted by American Samoa, all of the teachers in the territory will be
allowed to participate this time. The previous two conferences were
criticized for not allowing all local teachers (most of whom get no
opportunities to attend conferences outside American Samoa) the chance
to attend. Dr. Poumele said: "From its humble beginnings in the Pacific
Library in Guam, the annual Pacific Educational Conference has grown to
become one of the largest educational conferences in the Pacific
region." The majority of the workshops will once again be led by Pacific
educators, sharing their successes with colleagues from throughout the
region. Dr. Poumele said that workshops and activities that appeal to
teachers, principals, parents, students and community members will be
offered each day. American Samoa plans to showcase how technology has
been integrated into the local education system. The opening ceremony
for the conference is expected to take place at the newly completed
Samoana High School gymnasium. According to Dr Poumele, a conference
tradition is the sharing of songs, dance, stories and gifts among
participants. These activities expand learning into the realm of
cultural understanding and build friendships as well as professional
relationships. Dr. Poumele said hosting such a big event will benefit
many in the community, including motels, bed-and-breakfast
establishments, restaurants, local farmers and small businesses. Pacific
Islands News Association (PINA) Website: <http://www.pinanius.org>
SOURCE: Pacific Islands Report
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