Social media blamed

SAMOA – Principals in Samoa coping with the latest school brawls say social media is to blame.

Two colleges, Avele and Malua fou, plan to talk to the phone companies, Bluesky and Digicel, to see if they can help to curb phone use.

This comes after students from both schools were involved in a brawl last Friday in which a bus with several Avele students was stoned by Malua fou college students.

Several students from both schools have been arrested and charged by the police, while Malua fou college was closed yesterday as a result of the fight.

The Avele College principal, Matafeo Reupena, said social media had been the key factor behind the school brawls.

“We are having a special meeting with our Parents’ Teachers’ Association next week and I think Malua fou is doing the same. I think as we said earlier, once something comes up then that is when we as principals come together as soon as we can so that we can be able to iron it out before it gets worse.

“The main cause of the problem is social media. I wish we can have control over that.”

- RNZI