This year’s Teachers’ Day is going looking a little more glamorous than before, with the first Miss and Mr. Samoa Teacher’s Day Pageant.

Two teachers from each district were nominated to represent in three categories of talent, interviews and teachers' wear. 

The Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture (M.E.S.C) in partnership with Business Systems Limited (B.S.L) are putting on the pageant to honour Samoa’s teachers on Friday October 5th at C.C.C.S Hall from 5pm.

The pageant contestants introduced themselves at a launch event Friday morning, expressing their views on the importance of teachers not only to students but to Samoa at large.

M.E.S.C chief executive officer, Afamasaga Dr. Karoline Fuatai said the pageant is a way to let teachers be ordinary people without responsibilities.

“At least during the school holidays, we can have something innovative from the years of the past to recognise the value of what teachers do in schools,” she said.

Afamasaga said teachers need everyone’s backing to succeed in schools.

“We live in a world where there is complexity of influences good and bad, but we do the best we can. 

“The teachers can’t do their business of teaching the students without the support of the parents and the community at large,” she said.

Tauti Faatamali’i Jennny Lauano, assistant chief executive of the teacher development division said integrated into the pageant is an opportunity to discuss some of the issues affecting educators across Samoa.

Each topic was assigned to a couple and have to answer a question each on that topic in the interview component of the pageant.

One such issue is that of compulsory education and getting street hawker children into schools. 

“We want to get the buy-in of parents and the country in the importance of education, then we might actually be able to get the kids in school,” she said.

Another one is that of culture and education being perceived as separate when perhaps they should not be.

At the pageant, contestants are expected to share their research on these issues and provide recommendations as well.

One contestant from Savaii is excited for the teachers of Samoa to showcase teaching to the country.

“We are the ones who make students smart, right,” said Tautofo Ta’auli Uesile. 

“It’s the first time for us to show our faces to the world.” 

B.S.L donated nearly $20,000 tala to the pageant, and retail manager Leeroy Feaunati was present to welcome the contestants.

She said schools are one of B.S.L’s biggest customers so it’s good to give back with support.

“This is a way to outline the importance of teachers and their roles in nurturing our children,” Ms Feaunati said.

“Some of these teachers have been serving the ministry for 30 or 40 years, and they’re still here so we just wish them all the best.”