New opportunities for Tonga's school leavers [1]
Friday, December 19, 2003 - 16:03. Updated on Tuesday, September 10, 2013 - 17:58.
The hundreds of Tongan school leavers who finish Form 5 every year with no prospects or getting a job, will in 2004 be given the chance to continue with their studies and learn a skill.
Starting in February, the newly established 'Unuaki 'o Tonga Royal Institute (UTRI) will offer Form 5 level English graduates the opportunity to either study Foundation Level, Form 7, or to take a technical course at the Institute.
Dr. Makafalani Tatafu, the Executive Dean of UTRI, a former principal of 'Apifo'ou College, said that a common reason for dropping out from college was because Tongan students think that they will never pass Form 6 English, and therefore will not be able to progress on to the Foundation level. He said that the Institute would give these students the opportunity, and the only qualification they required was a pass in Form 5 English.
Maka said that the foundation level at UTRI would not be the same as the foundation level at the University of the South Pacific, where a student must pass 7 subjects in order to progress to the degree level. Maka said that the foundation level at UTRI was structured to give students the opportunity to study only in the area of their interest and pursue it to a degree level. The courses that will be offered at Foundation level at the new year are business studies, computing, nursing, science and social studies. At the URTI the fee per semester is only NZ$ 890, lower than at university level.
He said that a student who aimed at being an accountant would take a study program that will involve accounting only. "In that program all related subjects will be included but the priority will be accounting."
Once the student passed a foundation level program they could continue on to the next semester, for a three-year course at degree level. It is expected that the first group of students to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degrees from the Institute will be in 2007.
The institute also offers courses in building construction, motor industry and trades, electrotechnology, boat building, information technology, business administration and computing level 3 and business administration and computing level 4.
Maka said that students who wanted to take technical courses must also pass Form 5 English. The duration of these courses range from 17 weeks to 1 year and fees range from NZ$ 900 to $1800.
The UTRI is in affiliation with Unitech New Zealand and teachers from Unitech NZ will be lecturing classes at the beginning of the 2004 school year, assisted by local teachers. "Once lecturers are satisfied with the standard of local teachers they will return to New Zealand but will pay frequent visits to inspect the progress of the school."
King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, the Patron, named the school 'Unuaki 'o Tonga Royal Institute on November 6.
Maka said that the board of directors of UTRI wa chaired by Princess Pilolevu Tuita, assisted by 10 members including Dr Makafalani Tatafu, ...Etuate Lavulavu, a representative from the Unitech NZ and other members to be chosen by the Princess.