Pasifika students

COVID-19 outbreaks in greater Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra have forced schools to close, with students now required to do their school work from home.

That became a problem for 17-year-old Eusenia Tupuola Teo, a Year 12 student at Cabramatta High School in Sydney’s south-west.

The 17-year-old said, initially, she and her two siblings were having to share two computers between the three of them, which made learning difficult.

“It was a challenge,” Ms Tupuola Teo said.

Scolastica Samoa Faaluaseu Filipo (Samalaeulu, Vailele), 17, is the head girl of Marcellin College.

She lives with her parents and three siblings, and two extended family members stay in the granny flat.

But they are on the move.

Although her two older sisters attended a prestigious private girls school elsewhere in Tāmāki Makaurau, she insisted on enrolling into Marcellin so her parents would be less out of pocket.

Just over three weeks ago, the students were told they would not be performing at Polyfest because of the events in Christchurch.

On Sunday, more than 50 boys took to the stage at the school's gala day on its campus in the suburb of Glendowie.

One of the parents, Sharon Swann, said the boys agreed that all donations made at the performance would go to the victims of the Christchurch attacks.

The group had missed out on other chances to perform since 15 March, she said.

Victoria University of Wellington says the course aims to help newly-enrolled first-year Pasifika students prepare for university life.

Assistant Vice-Chancellor Luamanuvao Winnie Laban said the three day camp, in the week before orientation, will help students transition from high-school to university life.

She said, along with the academic focus, there will be a holistic approach to student well-being and cultural needs.

The three-day camp runs from the 22 to 24 of February and has a limited intake.

Students are encouraged to register their interest.

Last week, five Pasifika students graduated with a PhD degree, the highest number ever for one of the University’s biannual graduation celebrations.

And secondly, when tallied with last year’s total of four doctorates, it represented a more than 300 per cent increase in Pasifika PhD graduates from the total of two in 2014.

The dual language resources include 100 dual-language flip books, audio and online resources in Samoan, Tongan, Tokelauan, Cook Islands Māori and Niuean - as well as English, along with supporting materials for teachers and parents.

The Education Minister Hekia Parata said the materials are designed to build on the strengths of Pasifika new entrants' existing language skills to support the development of their English language and literacy skills.

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