Aspirants

Too Many White Collar

Samoa Has An Education Argu ment Of Interest To All The Pacific

(Contributed) fIHHERE is a lesson for all Pacific Is- JL lands Administrations in the Samoan public’s reaction to the edu cation schemes being introduced into Western Samoa by the well-meaning New Zealand Government.

The New Zealanders, in their Socialist enthusiasm, have set out to educate the Samoans. The critics who include most of the more experienced Europeans, and a large proportion of the wiser and better-balanced Samoans declare that the education plan is lavish to the point of being ridiculous, and that it will do Samoa more harm than good.

There is really a problem within a problem. There is the general question of whether the plan is not too elaborate for Samoa; and there is the question of what should be done to stop the squab bling between mission denominations.

The older people say that what is needed in Samoa is “selective” educa tion, under which a few specially-selected boys and girls would be given opportuni ties for secondary and higher education, and the remainder provided with a modest schooling, suitable for their future village life. They say that only a limited number of people will be needed as pro fessional and technical workers and ad ministrative officials, and it is ridiculous and harmful to train more than are ac tually needed.

It is a notorious fact that dozens of Samoan lads, who have finished school, are already hanging around Apia seek ing “white collar” jobs, and refusing to go back to the villages or work on the land. The older people in the villages complain bitterly that there are not en ough voung men available to work the plantations yet there are scores of youths seeking the higher education.

The idea that there shall be higher education available for all who demand it is indefensible, unless the whole situa tion is controlled clearly by the law of supply and demand. And that is the last law which these Socialist Governments observe!

THE secondary and complicating factor in this education problem is the attitude of the Catholic Churcn. No one will deny that the Catholic Mission in Samoa has done a fine job in educa tion, especially in its Secondary School; but that does not justify its action in demanding from the Samoans generally a large sum for the maintenance of its Secondary School, at a time when the whole subject of higher education is under the snotlight.

The Catho'lic Mission does not like the Government’s education plan, which is entirely secular, and so it has been ap nealing to the Samoans to agree to pay a special tax, at the rate of 10/- per an num for a Matai (chief) and 5/- for a Taulealea (Commoner), to help the Catholic High School. This appeal has not been well received which is not surprising, in view of the fact that some 80 per cent, of Samoans are non- Catholics. The other Missions (especially the Methodists and the LMS) are, qf course, up in arms against the Catholic plan.

PROBABLY, the whole situation is due to the fact that Samoa is wallowing in riches. The Dollar Invasion of the

Pacific War period was followed by phen omenal prices for Samoa’s staple pro ducts, cocoa and copra; and the halcyon days continue. The things of which the “old hands” complain_unwillingness to work, youthful restlessness, demand for white-collar jobs, too large a propor tion of the community seeking higher education are all symptomatic of there being too much money in circulation.

They are not peculiar to Samoa. But the good times cannot go on for ever. Samoa and especially Young Samoa will return to earth again, when the economi cal orgy is over.