The beginning stage of any person’s life is the most crucial as it lays the foundation for their growth. If not properly established, it can lead to numerous challenges and confusion.
Proper education of young children is a priority for the government, as it equips them to become the future leaders of the nation.
However, the Minister of the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development, Mulipola Anarosa Ale Molioo, has highlighted the current issues:
- 70% of children aged 5 and under do not have the opportunity to attend early education (pre-school) before starting primary school.
- There is a high number of children under 5 years old who have died or suffered due to the lack of access to necessary health services for mothers and children (15 per 1000 live births).
- Some children come from environments where they are exposed to violence.
- In 2022, the percentage of children under 5 suffering from certain illnesses due to poor living and developmental environments increased to 7.4% (up from 7.2% in 2021).
- There are financial challenges in funding programs and developments for young children.
- There are deficiencies in services and the workforce responsible for the development of young children.
- The impact of services due to climate change and natural disasters.
The Ministry has been conducting consultations to share and discuss with representatives from government departments, private organisations, churches, and communities about new methods and specific approaches to develop the lives of young children before they enter primary school.
Today’s consultation took place at the LAVA Hotel in Sogi, with another consultation scheduled for Upolu, and another on the main island.
For your information, this initiative is being supported by the Government of New Zealand and the United Nations Organisation for the Rights of the Child (UNICEF).
Mulipola stated that the Early Childhood Development framework and action plan have been completed. It has been submitted to the committee responsible for policy review and will ultimately be presented to the Cabinet for official approval.
Tala na tusia i le gagana Samoa e Cena Lātu
“E leo fanau uma oloo maua auaunaga sili ona moomia a’o laiti” Mulipola
O le laasaga amata o le soifuaga o soo se tagata soifua e aupito sili ona taua aua e faavae ai lona tuputupu a’e. Afai ae le mafai ona paepaeina lelei, e taunuu i faafitauli e fememea’i ai.
O le a’oa’oina lelei o fanau laiti, e faalagolago iai le Malo aua e fa’aa’upegaina ai i latou nei o le a avea ma ta’ita’i o le atunuu i le lumanai.
E ui i lea, ua faailoa e le Minisita o le Matagaluega o Tina ma Tamaitai Atinae o Afioaga ma Agafesootai ia Mulipola Anarosa Ale Molioo, le vala oloo iai nei.
E le na ma le laina luitau ma faafitauli o loo feagai ma fanau laiti o le tatou atunuu:
- E 70% o fanau e 5 tausaaa agai lalo e leai ni avanoa e auai ai i uluai aoaoga (pre-school) ae le’i amatalia aoga tulaga lua.
- Maualuga le numera o fanau ei lalo ifo o le 5 tausaga ua maliliu ma aafia o latou soifua ona o le le lava o avanoa e maua ai auaunaga tau soifua maloloina e manaomia e tina ma fanau (15 per 1000 live births).
- O nisi fanau e feola mai siosiomaga e iai sauaga.
- O le 2022 sa faamauina ai e 7.4% (sa 7.2% ile 2021) ua siitia ai le pasene o fanau I lalo o le 5 tausaga ua aafia a o laiti i nisi o ma’i o le tino ona o le le lelei o le siosiomaga o loo ola ma atinae ai.
- Luitau ile tulaga tau tupe e faatupe ai polokalame ma atinae mo fanau laiti.
- Tulaga faaletonu o auaunaga ma le aufaigaluega o loo gafa ma atinae e agai i fanau laiti,
- Aafiaga o auaunaga ona o le suiga o le tau ma mala faalenatura.
O lea ua aoao manogi le Matagaluega e ala i faatalanoga, e fetufaa’i ai ma Sui o Matagaluega, o Faalapotopotoga Tumaoti, o Ekalesia ma Afioaga, i metotia fou ma auala anoa, e atinae ai le soifua o fanau laiti ae lei ulufale atu i Aoga Tulaga Lua.
O le faatalanoaga i le aso lenei na faia i le Faletalimalo a le LAVA i Sogi, ma toe tasi le isi faatalanoaga e faia i Upolu, ma le isi i le motu tele.
Mo le silafia, o le faamaite lenei oloo fesoasoani mai ai le Malo o Niu Sila ma le Faalapotopotoga o Malo Aufaatasi e faatauaina le aia tatau a fanau (UNICEF).
Na saunoa Mulipola ua maea ona tuufaatasi le faavaa po o le taiala (Early Childhood Development framework) ma le fuafuaga (action plan). Ua tuuina atu ile Komiti o loo gafa ma le iloiloga o faiga faavae ma faaiu atu ai ile Kapeneta mo lona faamaoniga aloaia.
