Two parents have commended schools for providing home-based school work for their children, amidst a Government-declared state of emergency to mitigate risks associated with coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic.

The parents, whose children attend the Maluafou College and the Saint Peter Primary School at Falefa, told Samoa Observer that the assignments prepared by their college and primary school teachers works out well for their children.

A mother of two, Tulua Togifau, said they do not have access to a television to see televised school lessons facilitated by the Ministry of Education Sports and Culture (MESC), except for a small radio she listens to everyday.

"My kids attend Maluafou College and parents were asked to uplift assignments from the College to do for two weeks. After finishing the given assignments we are to give it in and they will provide other assignments for them again," she said.

“Television school programs are good but then it's only primary levels that I always see on it, for radio it's the same thing. Sometimes, the education programs come on and my kids are doing their daily chores. But with this platform I am able to help them out with explaining and getting their homework done. I can also see that they understand it.”

The home-based assignments also enable parents to get involved, according to Ms Togifau, which enables their children to understand what is required of them.

Marie Tuni, whose two daughters and son attend the Saint Peters Primary School at Falefa, revealed that their teacher drops off their homework at home every Thursday.

"Their teacher comes every Thursdays to collect their homework and leave new assignments for them. It keeps them occupied during this lock down period," she said.

"We take our hats off to the school principals and teachers for thinking about this platform to ensure that our kids are doing their homework and most of all to keep our kids’ minds working.”

It is understood there are other Government and private-run schools and colleges that are also providing weekly to bi-weekly homework for their students, which are picked up by parents and dropped off at the educational institution for teachers to assess them.