Senators hear about ‘deplorable’ conditions at Manu’a schools
Health Dept. closed them all after first inspection since 2021 By Asi Andrew Fa'asau andrew@samoanews.com Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Senators were informed in no uncertain terms last Friday about the deplorable and unhygienic conditions of school facilities in Manu‘a — conditions so severe that the Department of Health ordered the closure of the schools three weeks ago. Testifying before the Senate Education Committee, Eileen Solaita, head of the Department of Health’s Environmental Services Division, gave a detailed account of the conditions her team discovered during their late‐February inspection of the Manu‘a schools. Senators were also provided with photographs documenting the state of the facilities. According to Solaita, inspectors found that several bathrooms lacked sinks, kitchen areas had no hot water—meaning utensils could not be properly sanitized—and piles of rubbish were left inside classrooms. They also documented mold and mildew, broken desks and chairs that posed safety hazards, damaged toilet seat covers, low water pressure, and an overpowering stench coming from a bathroom located inside one of the school kitchens. Solaita added that septic tanks for some school kitchens were busted, and it was reported that these kitchens are often used by families and village churches during fa‘alavelave and other community events. Solaita told senators that the last time DOH inspected the Manu‘a schools was in 2021. She revealed that former DOH Director Motusa Tuileama Nua had prohibited her division from conducting further inspections in Manu‘a, effectively halting oversight for several years. She said the first opportunity they had to return to the islands and assess the schools again came only this February. The hearing, chaired by Ta‘ū Senator Tuialu‘ulu‘u Vaimili Tuialu‘ulu‘u, opened with remarks from Director of Education Maefau Dr. Mary Taufete‘e, who acknowledged that the Department of Health’s decision to close the Manu‘a schools stemmed from serious health and safety concerns that posed potential risks to students. However, she stressed that her department shipped materials and supplies to Manu‘a earlier this week, and a crew from the Maintenance Division has already traveled to the islands to begin repairs. Their work includes cleaning up the campuses and addressing the conditions that led the DOH to close the schools three weeks ago. She also emphasized that while the schools remain closed, students in Fitiuta, Faleasao, and Ofu & Olosega are continuing their studies online. Those without internet access at home are being provided with printed lesson packages. Senate President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean expressed deep concern after hearing the stark account of the appalling and unhygienic conditions of the Manu‘a school facilities presented by DOH Environmental Services Division Head Eileen Solaita — concerns he said were clearly reflected in the photographs she provided. Referring to the images, Tuaolo asked DOE Director Maefau whether the photos accurately depicted the current state of the Manu‘a schools. Maefau confirmed that they did. Tuaolo pressed the issue, asking where DOE management had been when DOH conducted its inspection and who was supposed to be present during the assessment. Maefau responded that DOE and the Department of Public Works (DPW) had agreed to have representatives accompany DOH during inspections. However, she said DOH carried out the Manu‘a inspection without notifying her office. The Senate President then turned to DOH representative Eileen Solaita, pressing her to explain how and why the inspection had been carried out. Solaita reiterated that the last inspection of the Manu‘a school facilities took place in 2021. She said that during that visit, her team identified several issues, which she documented in a report submitted to DOH management. However, she added that former DOH Director Motusa subsequently instructed her division not to conduct any further inspections in Manu‘a. As complaints from members of the House of Representatives and the public continued to mount, Solaita said she was finally given the green light by current DOH Director Dr. Saipale Fuimaono to return to Manu‘a. She and her team traveled aboard the department’s new emergency medical vessel to carry out the long‐overdue inspection of the school facilities. Tuaolo asked whether there was a standard procedure for conducting inspections. Solaita explained that DOH inspections can be carried out at any time to ensure that conditions are observed as they truly are, particularly in classrooms and food‐service areas. She added that DOE management had been informed that her team was en route to Manu‘a, and that upon arrival, they were met by school principals, who opened the facilities and accompanied the inspectors along with a DOE representative. Tuaolo, visibly dissatisfied, then pressed DOE Director Maefau on who should be held accountable for the appalling conditions shown in the DOH photographs. “Who on your team should be blamed for what is in these photos?” Tuaolo demanded. “We don’t like what we see. The facilities used by the sons and daughters of Manu‘a are deplorable. It’s a disgrace.” Director Maefau responded that DOE had not been notified of the DOH inspection and that she only learned of it after the team had already arrived in Manu‘a. She said DOE was unaware of the extent of the problems captured in the photos. “The DOH team went ahead with their inspection without informing us,” she reiterated. “But we had specifically agreed that both departments must be present during any inspection — reflecting two government agencies working together for the good of the Territory.” Tuaolo pushed back sharply. “It looks to me like you scrambled to do something only after DOH notified you they were already on their way to inspect the school premises and facilities,” he said. “These photos tell us you are not doing your jobs.” Director Maefau acknowledged that while DOE has attempted to carry out maintenance across all schools, the department continues to struggle with inadequate funding. “When we take our invoices to the stores, they won’t accept them. They want payment upfront,” she explained. She emphasized that the department was not sitting idly by, but was doing its best to repair and maintain deteriorating facilities with the limited resources available. At the same time, she said teachers were working hard to ensure that the challenges did not disrupt students’ education — holding classes online where possible and providing printed lesson packets for students without internet access. Tuaolo enquired if maintenance employees get paid overtime. Maefau confirmed that they did. The Senate President asked the DOE Director how the department can afford to pay overtime and let conditions in Manu'a get so bad. The Director explained that the overtime for maintenance staff is because they only carry out repairs after classes are finished. DOE'S Deputy Director for Maintenance, Athena Mauga explained that the fund for school maintenance is about $500,000 a quarter. This is derived from a portion of the excise tax on fuel; about $300,000 goes to paying DOE Maintenance personnel, leaving just $200,000 for materials and supplies. Senator Togiola T.A. Tulafono questioned DOH Environmental Services Division head Solaita on when and why her team conducted the inspection of school premises and facilities in Manu‘a. Solaita explained that she had been subpoenaed to appear before the House of Representatives’ Education Committee, where several faipule expressed strong dissatisfaction with the appalling condition of the Manu‘a school facilities. This prompted her division to carry out an inspection on February 22– 23, 2026, after receiving approval from current DOH Director Dr. Fuimaono. Togiola then referred to Solaita’s earlier statement that, following the 2021 inspection, she had been prohibited by then‐DOH Director Motusa from conducting any further inspections in Manu‘a. “Can you clarify what exactly you mean by being ‘prohibited’ by former Director Motusa Tuileama Nua from conducting any more school inspections in Manu‘a?” Togiola asked. Solaita recalled that in 2021 she conducted an inspection of the Manu‘a schools, accompanied by then – Lt. Governor Talauega E. V. Ale. During that visit, she said they identified several structural issues that required urgent attention — problems she detailed in the report she submitted to DOH management. However, she testified that former DOH Director Motusa subsequently forbade her from conducting any further inspections in Manu‘a. “Director Motusa told me to leave the Manu‘a schools to the Manu‘a people, who would inspect them themselves, because the department didn’t have enough funds to support inspection trips to Manu‘a,” Solaita recounted. Senator Togiola then asked for her professional assessment of the structural problems identified in 2021 and how they compare to what she observed during last month’s inspection. Solaita responded that the situation has significantly worsened after four years without maintenance, to the point where students’ safety is now at risk. She added that some bathrooms have no running water at all, while others have extremely low water pressure. Despite this, she said students continue to use these facilities because they have no alternative. Solaita further claimed that certain bathrooms with functioning water are kept locked and reserved only for “special guests”. Solaita also informed senators that septic tanks for some school kitchens were busted, and that it had been reported to her that these kitchens are sometimes used by families and village churches for cooking during fa‘alavelave and other community events. She added that these same groups often blame DOE for the deteriorating condition of the facilities. This claim was strongly disputed by Manu‘a Senator Ma‘o Faauma Gogo, who argued that no village operating under the authority of its matai would allow such misuse of school property. If it occurred at all, he said, it would be done by individual families or church groups — not the village leadership. He added that he did not want to hear DOE say they would “try.” “Do what’s needed now,” he told DOE officials, stressing that students must be in classrooms with their teachers. He expressed gratitude for the DOH inspection, saying it had finally brought to light the true condition of the Manu‘a schools. Senator Togiola then directed his questioning to DOE Director Maefau, asking her how many janitors were currently assigned to each school in Manu‘a. Maefau began by saying that the department was trying to hire janitors, but Togiola immediately cut her off, insisting she answer the question directly: how many janitors were actually employed in the Manu‘a schools. Maefau repeated that they were in the process of trying to hire two janitors, but again, Togiola interrupted, telling her not to “beat around the bush” and to state plainly how many janitors were on staff. The DOE Director then admitted that none of the schools in Manu‘a currently have a janitor. She emphasized, however, that the department is in the process of hiring janitorial staff. Togiola pressed further, asking how long the schools had been operating without janitors. Maefau responded that since she assumed the role of DOE Director about a year and a half ago that has been the situation. “If there are no janitors, who are you expecting to carry out janitorial duties — cleaning and maintaining bathrooms, cleaning classrooms, emptying trash cans, cleaning cafeterias and kitchens, sweeping and polishing hallways and floors?” Togiola asked. Director Maefau replied that she relied on school principals to step up and assign teachers to handle these responsibilities. “Delegating additional responsibilities to teachers is easy,” Togiola countered. “But more often than not, it will be the students who end up doing the cleaning or helping teachers carry out these extra duties. “Are you relying on principals and teachers to perform janitorial work? Is it in their job description? Do they receive extra pay for taking on these additional responsibilities?” The DOE Director answered that no, they do not receive extra pay. “I know it is not in their job description, and I know it is not right for them to shoulder an extra load of responsibilities,” Director Maefau conceded. “But my personal feeling is that principals and teachers should be prepared to sacrifice their time and energy for the good of our students.” Senator Leatualevao Asifoa noted that everyone present had once attended elementary, middle, and high school — and in every one of those schools, janitors were part of the staff. He emphasized that while some people may look down on janitorial work, the reality is that janitors are essential members of any workplace, school, or institution. “No one wants to work in a workplace or attend a school with facilities in such an appalling and unhygienic condition as what we see in the photographs provided by DOH,” Leatualevao said. “Janitors are essential, especially in schools, because our children deserve a clean and hygienic environment to learn. I hope you will resolve this problem so the children of Manu‘a can return to school soon.” Senators Levu Sa Iosia and Gaoteote Palaie Tofau echoed Leatualevao’s sentiments. “Today, we recognize a very important lesson from this unfortunate situation,” Senator Levu said. “We must ensure that our children have access to the best resources as they pursue their education. They are all our children — whether they are from Manu‘a, Tutuila, or Aunu‘u — and they deserve the best. After all, they are our future leaders.” “A lot has been said today,” Senator Gaoteote added. “There is no doubt in my mind that we have a very serious problem, because the photographs we have seen tell us exactly what the children of Manu‘a have been exposed to. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. “As a parent, I am ashamed and disgusted by what I have seen today. What’s the use of wearing suits and eating in restaurants when our children are being forced to eat in such deplorable conditions? My sincere hope is that the DOE Director and her staff will act immediately to fix this problem for the sake of our children.” All senators who spoke during the hearing expressed their gratitude and commended DOH representative Eileen Solaita and her team for carrying out their duties diligently, bringing to light a serious and long‐neglected problem within the education system. Section: Local News Tags: MANU'A SCHOOLS
2026-03-17 20:19:34