Competition hailed a success

08 December 2016, 12:00AM

The Inclusive interschool Poetry speech and debate competition hosted by SENESE Inclusive Support Services and its partners has been hailed a great success. 

As part of international week of persons with disabilities, SENESE Inclusive Support Services spearheaded a campaign to encourage students to share their thoughts on Inclusive Education, using poetry, speech and debate competition.

The competition was the main activity of the international day of persons with disabilities, Saturday 3rd December 2016. 

The competition centred on the theme ‘the inclusive future we want for children with disabilities’, while the debate  was on the topic “inclusive education should be enforced and be made compulsory for all children with disabilities.

Over 100 entries were submitted from primary, secondary college students, as well as one entry from tertiary were submitted for screening.

The top five in each entry, primary speech, primary poetry, secondary speech and secondary poetry were selected to be presented on competition day.

Two debate teams were registered, the teams from Lefaga  College and the team from Faleata College which gave debate champion Lefaga college a run for their money.

The competition attracted entries from as far as Gataivai and Asaga primary schools in the big island, and as far as Lefaga in the island of Upolu.

Saint Mary’s, Vaitele Uta, Samoa Primary schools and Vaiusu were among the many schools which submitted entries.

While a range of colleges including Lefaga, Leifiifi, Avele, and also Samoa College and Faleata College submitted entries in the secondary and college divisions.

While not many entries were received in the tertiary division, the management of SENESE were overwhelmed with the response of students, principals teachers as well as parents to the event, in spite it being a busy time of the year with exams, prize giving and simply students being in end of year mode.

The competition prizes were supported through the Nuanua o le Alofa and Ministry of Women,  Community and Social Development through the International week of persons with disabilities activities. Samoa Stationeries and Books was also on board with their support. 

Digicel as well as Malua Printing Press with some awesome prizes. 

Samoa Shipping Corporation came to the rescue for the Savaii participants who made it to the top five by sponsoring their return trips to participate in the event.

As one of the entrants from Savaii came away as champion of the Savaii Primary Poetry division, Miss Joewanna Lualua Sefo of Asaga Primary School, it was  an assistance worth given.  

It was a true community event, as good Samaritans Central Bank, Inkpatch Money Transfer Apia Bottling Company LTD, Inalani’s Catering, Denzal Catering kept the audience well fed while the competitors kept them entertained and informed with their presentations, under the cool comfort of the Samoa Tourism Fale. 

Added to the entertainment were the SENESE secondary students who wowed the audience with their amazing dance performance and  disputing common beliefs that persons who are deaf cannot dance because they cannot hear the music.

The local media continue to play  a very important role in promoting this event, with Samoa Quality Broadcasting offering us a free spot to promote the event on the Lali Programme, and Samoa Observer News Paper offering to publish some of the entries.

Their support made organising this event so much easier.

SENESE has been running a story-telling competition since 2011, and this competition is a continuation of that successful programme.

The initiative is to allow for students to tell their story using poetry, speech and through debate to sing the THEME: “The inclusive future we want for children with disabilities.”

It takes a community to achieve an inclusive future for children with disability.  This programme is a collaborative effort to determine how well schools have understood the concept of inclusiveness for persons with disabilities.

SENESE is the main provider of inclusive education support services, supporting children and their families who are educated in regular primary and secondary schools.

SENESE believes in removing all barriers to accessing quality education for all children with all disabilities and in educating children in their own communities with other children. 

RESULTS INTERSCHOOL POETRY SPEECH AND DEBATE COMPETITION

3 DECEMBER 2016

POETRY PRIMARY DIVISION 

1. Joewanna Lualua Sefo - Asaga Primary School

2. Hemara Muliaga - Saint Mary’s Primary School.

3. Apelu Sulamanaia - Samoa Primary school.

4. Manuia Silivelio - Nofoalii Primary

5. Valentine Tevita - Gataivai Primary school

Secondary poetry category

1. Timaar Faavela - Lefaga Primary school

2. Olive Gloria Leapai - Vaimauga College.

3. Naomi Esau - Lefaga College. 

4. Lusiano Lafao Leauanae - Faleata College

primary speech category

1. Elizabeth Tuisalega - Vaitele Uta PrimarySchool.

2. Ronald Datsun - Vaitele Uta Primary school.

3. shoshannah Tupuse  - Saint Mary’s Savalalo 

4. Lagi Kamuta - Vaitele Uta Primary School.

5. Vaisilika Silao - Saint Mary’s Primary

SPEECH SECONDARY CATEGORY

1. Alberta Moeono - Samoa College

2. Wendy Tupuola Seven Day adventist college. 

3. Laalaai Toetu - Lefaga College. 

4. Liana Malosi - Lefaga College. 

5. Rosemary Ulaula - Avele College 

DEBATE CATEGORY

1. Lefaga college debate team. 

2. Faleata college debate team 

08 December 2016, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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