A newly opened Fagalii Primary School hall can shelter close to 200 students and will also be used as an evacuation centre in times of natural disaster for local residents.

The new hall was built within the school compound and was launched by the Minister of Education, Sports and Culture, Seu'ula Ioane Tua’au. The total cost of the new hall was SAT$484,000.30 with assistance from ADRA Samoa as well as funding from the Government's $1 million district development grant. 

The head of ADRA Samoa, Su'a Julia Wallwork also attended the official opening. In an interview with the Samoa Observer, School Principal, Seuamuli Faasega Sakaria stressed that this is the first time the school will have a big hall and it will assist the students as well as the villagers.

"We really have to give it to the village and Alii ma Faipule (village council) for making this happen and hearing our prayers, as well as ADRA and the government through the $1 million district development project," she said. "This is the first hall to be built here on the grounds where the old school building was and which was taken down as it was wearing out and posing risks to the academic journeys of the children."

ADRA Samoa donated $49,000 to the school project with the school also managing to get a grant of $100,000 through the Vaimauga No.1 $1 million district development grant with the rest raised by the village.

Overseas-based residents of the village as well as old boys and girls of the school also donated money through various fundraising activities for the hall project. The hall is built where the old school building was located according to the school principal.

Seu'ula, who cut the ribbon to officially open the school hall, congratulated the school and village and urged them to take better care of the new facility as it will help them in the long run.

With the increasing number of accidents as well where students get hit by vehicles, he also used the opportunity to appeal to the parents to drop off their children at school properly and pick them up after school.

"Nowadays, there are heaps of accidents where our children get into on the road and other things that's why it's important for us parents to drop them off in the morning and pick them up after school," he said.

Asked about the school's total enrollment, Seuamuli said it dropped from 216 to 196 as some students have moved overseas with their families.

The school is now being operated by eight staff members including the principal and with the assistance of the school committee and the whole village of Fagalii.