Tong High School in tents [1]
Tuesday, January 30, 2001 - 10:00. Updated on Friday, January 29, 2016 - 17:13.
From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 15, no. 4, January 2001.
Tonga’s Ministry of Education is still unsure how much they will need to rebuild Tonga High School, which was destroyed by fire last year, according to the Deputy Director of Education, Viliami Takau.
The loss of the library, computer room and the main block of classrooms was estimated at over $1 million, and when school started in January 2001 many classes would be held in tents, possibly for the whole year.
Viliami said a 26-class room for Ha‘apai was currently being built at Pangai, Ha‘apai. The Ha‘apai High School is financed by the People’s Republic of China at a cost of over $US4 million. It is expected to be completed by December 9, 2001, and will accommodate about 600 students.
Meanwhile a fire at Tonga College last year was suspected to be the work of arsonists.