Governor Togiola launches scholarship
program for ASG workers
For the first time ever, the American Samoa Government is offering its employees the added benefit - and rare opportunity - of pursuing a graduate degree.
The program, initiated by Governor Togiola Tulafono, is being sponsored by the ASG Professional Development Scholarship Program.
The program, which offers a master's degree in Leadership and Counseling from San Diego State University, was launched on Nov. 9 during a brief ceremony in the Governor's Office.
Those in attendance included Dr. Fred Macfarlane of SDSU's Rehabilitation and Post-Secondary Education and Interwork Institute, scholarship board chairman Rev. Ned Ripley, board member Fofo Sunia, and the 26 local candidates who will be pursuing their graduate degrees in the program.
In his remarks, Togiola described the program as one of the most ambitious and far reaching programs of this Administration.
"Our goal is to improve the services we offer as a government - to our people. To do that, we need to upgrade the qualification and skills of our core of public servants," said the Governor. "I have said this often enough in the past, and today, we are on the move."
He added that after reviewing most of the critical areas of services, it was decided that the manpower upgrade begin with counseling services.
"Why? It is because we are a society in transition. Most of the developments today are new to our people," Togiola said. "Our hopes for tomorrow can almost be described in one word: Education."
According to Togiola, the selection of school counseling was because of its critical role in education. When teachers, parents, and students blend properly, Togiola said only then will our education system feature "good schools." And one of the key ways to reach that goal is through school counseling.
The Governor believes that school counselors are coordinators who see to it that all elements are properly interfaced. "They are a special breed of educators," he added.
Togiola referred to the counseling services being offered by the Department of Human and Social Services and said that although DHSS offers counseling services in the critical areas of anger management, child abuse, domestic violence, abandonment, and sexual abuse, "it is irresponsible to think we can just offer counseling without a special solid background and special training."
And that is why DHSS counselors fill a number of slots in the new program. "We want to see their skills and competence upgraded," Togiola said. "I believe that when a worker knows what they are doing, they will do it well. I am confident this higher level of education will provide a solid foundation for these young counselors."
Togiola said that other government departments that may wonder why they are not included in the program when counseling services are needed at their offices need not feel neglected, as this is just the beginning, and the overall plan is to cover all areas of public services in this upgrade system.
Togiola said that in addition to the new counseling and leadership program, the ASG is also expecting to start a cohort in accounting by January, and one in law enforcement shortly thereafter.
Togiola's hope is that in five years time, all basic government services will have been covered under the skills and qualification upgrade efforts.
"It is a major undertaking for ASG, and it is one that is long overdue," Togiola remarked.
Dr. Fred Macfarlane addressed those in attendance and said, "It is our intent in working with you to foster education, and to foster it both with colleagues here, and throughout your government. I look forward to two years from now when you, Governor, will be able to sit with us and we will confer the master's degree to all these colleagues here. That will be a great celebration. But, it won't be a commencement that ends their learning; it will only be one step in their continued learning. I wish each of you the very best. I look forward to working with you and you teaching us during the course of the next two years."
The first course of the master's degree program began Nov. 10
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