Leifiifi College and other educational institutions have started their exams this week to accomodate Samoa's preparations for the Pacific Games in July this year. 

Principal Malaea Lauano told the Samoa Observer they started their exams early so they could have time to prepare for the region's largest sporting event. 

"We want to finish (and) lighten the load of the students so they can focus on one thing at a time, and so their studies won't be affected from the preparations for the Pacific Games," she said.

Leifiifi College staff and students will be cheering for and welcoming the French territory of New Caledonia for the Pacific Games, as one of the many schools that have been chosen to support a country.

It is the Ministry of Education Sports and Culture's strategy for the schools to each welcome individual countries and territories that will be arriving in July to participate in the Pacific Games.

Consequently, Mrs. Lauano and the staff in the college opted to bring the exams forward for Years 9-13.

The Principal said she is confident the students' study programme and their preparations for the Pacific Games will be okay.

"There was nothing wrong with our time management for the students schedule. Everything was set in time and I'm confident that the exams is flowing good," she added. 

All students at the college are not paying school fees as per a policy directive from M.E.S.C., with Mrs. Lauano saying it's good news not only for the students but also parents, who strive day and night to raise funds for their children's school fees. 

"The only thing we're requiring the parents to pay right now is the registration that is only $20 or $10. So everything is easy, all the students sit their exams normally, and even if they don't pay the $20 we still give them chance to sit the exams."