The principal of Malua-fou College Papalii Leatufale Lasi refuted allegations that she denied admission to a wheelchair-bound student starting in Year Nine.

The family of 14-year-old New Delhi Joseph Vaafusuaga, who has a walking disability, said they were disappointed and claimed that the principal was harsh towards him.

The incident happened on Tuesday when the school opened. According to the family, New Delhi attended Loto Taumafai for his primary school education and after graduation, they were told he could school in any college as there was nothing wrong with his learning ability.

New Delhi was born with a disability and has been in a wheelchair since childhood. The family claimed there was nothing intellectually wrong with him and he was a smart person. The family said New Delhi sat the entrance examination for Maluafou College and was accepted in Year Nine.

Older sister June Sipaia told Samoa Observer it was sad that New Delhi was scolded and refused admission because of his disability.

Ms Sipaia said her brother doesn't want to go to school anymore because he feels hurt and embarrassed.

Speaking to the Samoa Observer, Papalii said the allegations were not true and she would not do anything like that to a child with special needs. She claimed that New Delhi had been dropped off at school and his parents had left.

"I was shocked when I was told by the vice principal that there was a student in a wheelchair in school on Tuesday," Papalii said.

"Being the principal of Maluafou for more than 10 years now, this is the first time a child with special needs came to our school.”

Papalii said Maluafou was not designed to cater for students with special needs.

She said the student needed to be enrolled properly and not just left at the school.

Papalii added that being the first student with a disability to attend Maluafou College, she needed to talk to the parents to find out if a family member could assist him while at school each day.

"As I've said our school does not cater for children with special needs and this child alone needs someone in his family that can assist in caring for him while in school," Papalii said.

She said the school does not have wheelchair ramps or access to classrooms and toilets. She said the school also did not have a toilet for people with disability as the child would require one.

Papalli said she was disappointed that the church's reputation had been damaged because of the allegations made against her and the school.

She claimed that she did not tell the boy that he was not accepted at Maluafou but told him to come again on Thursday to sit an exam which reshuffles classes for Year Nine students.

Papalii said she believes this student deserves to be in school.

New Delhi’s family said he was capable of looking after himself and moving around. The family also claimed that New Delhi’s mother left the student with the vice principal after telling him that she needed to go to work.