Making annual grants to church schools began in 1983 when government allocated $50 to $60 thousand tala in recognition of the church schools' significant contribution to providing education.

This year the annual allocation for private schools has reached $6 million tala.

Consideration is being given to allocating at least $13 million to private schools in the near future.

Announcing the grants, prime minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi said church schools remain within the Government's overall commitment to developing education in Samoa.

He said that the government cannot overlook mission schools development because this is the only way that the children can continue to learn and develop their future.

It is also the Government's way of assisting and helping parents with paying school fees he said.

The grants are allocated based on the school rolls for each school. This year, the Catholic schools received the highest amount.

In addition to the allocation to the Catholic Schools Committee, the Don Bosco Vocational College at Alafua received $92,000 tala, and $92,000 tala was allocated to Don Bosco Salelologa.

The government has agreed to a request that these schools directly funded because they were not included in the allocation of its grant that the Committee made last year.

The Congregational Christian Church of Samoa that received $823,000 tala.

The Methodist Mission Schools receive $696,000 tala.

Spending on Education is set to be reduced by $14.7million in the 2018/19 Budget tabled by the Minister of Finance, Sili Epa Tuioti.

Compared to $100.3million allocated to Education last year, this year's allocation is $85.6million.

Source

• talamua.co
• sobserver.ws
• Image: samoaobserver.ws

Groups from Matautu and Leone, Saint Anthony, Vaimoso and Samalage and Aiga Paia took part.

They took part in a dance and singing competition.

But Father Losi Numia said the event was not about who wins.

What the church wanted was to promote the understanding about the impact of drugs and suicide on families, churches, and the whole country.

"We're talking about the importance of learning to say no to drugs and suicide," he said.

"It's a way of delivering the message to these young ones especially our youth that suicide is not the answer.

"There are people out there that each and everyone of us can share with if we need help…most importantly, don't forget to pray."

On Wednesday Head of State, His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi, led a crowd of 200 enthusiastic walkers through the heart of Apia in support of the Fa'ataua La Ola (F.L.O) organisation's annual event, Walk for Life 2016.

The event certainly was a celebration of life, with a glorious sunrise, the music of the Samoa Police Band and the happy faces of the students from Loto Taumafai School supporting the walkers.

In 2014, statistics showed that in Samoa the rate of suicides reached up to 30 out of every 100,000 inhabitants - with an undefined but even higher rate being among young people.

Suicide rates in the Pacific Islands are some of the highest in the world and have reached up to 30 per 100,000 in countries such as Samoa, Guam and Micronesia, double the global average, with youth rates even higher according to a 2014 report in the Inter Press News Agency

The Pacific Islands has an escalating youth population, with 54 percent of people in the region now aged below 24 years and those aged 15-29 years are at the greatest risk of taking their lives, according to the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC).

Source

• sobserver.ws
• sobserver.ws
• ipsnews.net
• Image: soberver.ws

For counselling and support

• Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 any time
• Lifeline - 0800 543 354
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• Chinese Lifeline - 0800 888 880
  (for people who speak Mandarin or Cantonese)
• Youthline - 0800 376 633, free text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz
  (for young people, and their parents, whanau and friends)
• What's Up - 0800 942 8787
  (for 5-18 year olds; 1 pm to 11 pm)
• The Lowdown - visit the website, email team@thelowdown.co.nz or free text 5626 (emails and text messages will be responded to between 12 noon and 12 midnight)
• SPARX - an online self-help tool that teaches young people the key skills needed to help combat depression and anxiety.

This statement is contained in a review prepared by public Accountant, Tupuola Oloiali'i Koki Tuala, which the Samoa Observer says was leaked to the Sunday Samoan.

In his report, Tupuola says the total current assets are estimated at $4.5 million tala, current liabilities are $12.0 million tala which places the current debt ratio at 0.375:1 or 0.38:1.

A debt ratio is a calculation used by those in the finance sector to determine how much risk is associated with an organisation or business, or in this case the Church.

"The current ratio is way below the standard acceptable level of l:l, hence the acid test assessment will most likely produce a negative ratio," Tupuola reports.

Staff have not been paid and creditors have refused further credit arrangements for the Archdiocese

The report provides a summary of key financial indicators which were used to determine the current financial position and going concern of the Archdiocese as at June 18, 2013.

Total liabilities as at 18m June 2013 are as follows:

• Bank loans WST$9,390,799
• Bank overdraft WST$1,271,547
• Trade creditors WST$8,982,731
• VAGST payable WST$2,007,525
• Creditors paid by land WST$1,772,116

That places the Church's total liabilities at WST23,424,718

Tupuola said "I have not audited the financial information provided for my review because of the limited time to carry out a full audit assessment."

"Including seeking independent external confirmations of all liabilities of the Archdiocese and examine all legal documents such as loan agreements, legal contracts, terms and conditions of credit facilities and; other legal documents.

"In addition, the financial statements as at May 31, 2013 had not been completed."

"The latest financial statements provided for my review is for the financial year as at December 31, 2011, which I received on 17th June 2013."

In July it was announced that the church's Finance Committee was to be chaired by Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi. and the Development Committee by Feesago Siaosi Fepulea'i.

At that time Monika Lamositele, Chief Financial Officer of the Church, said that a corporate plan was on the table.

She said that it's now a "well laid plan" for the Church's Corporate Plan and the chairs named above will be leading the Committees to upgrade Financial Reports within the Catholic Church.

Source

• Samoa Observer
• Samoa Observer
• Image: Rachel Nankivell

"Gambling is optional. It is a matter of a person's choice," he said.

"There is no specific teachings of the [Catholic] church with regards to gambling," says Father Ioane. "There are other forms of gambling which members of the church use for fundraising purposes like bingo for instance.

"As far as we're concerned, there are no teachings of the Catholic Church against gambling. There is no specific teaching that the Catholic Church is against gambling."

Last year, senior Catholic Deacon Kasiano Le'aupepe, speaking in his role of head of the the National Council of Churches (NCC), said "The love of money and the casinos will only drive people further into poverty," he warned. "People will start to save money to play in the casinos instead of feeding their families.

"The addiction will become too much; it will result in crime as people start stealing to fuel their addiction. Gambling opens the door to the influx of outsiders who have no fear for God."

Source

• Samoa Observer
• Image: pokies-casinos.com