300 students in Vava’u Soroban Competition [1]
Wednesday, August 20, 2014 - 20:15. Updated on Wednesday, August 20, 2014 - 22:23.
Nineteen Vava’u primary schools participated in the Tonga Soroban Competition at Mailefihi Siu’ilikutapu College, co-hosted by the Embassy of Japan and the Ministry of Education and Training last week Thursday August 14.
Soroban is a traditional Japanese calculator. A total of 300 students from Class 3 to Class 5 participated in the competition, which consisted of three categories: written examination, oral examination, and flash examination.
The top three students from Classes 3 to 4 in the written examinations will represent Vava’u Primary Schools in the National Soroban Competition in Nuku’alofa, Tongatapu on March 2015.
In the Class 3 competition, all categories were won by Sione Tukuafu of Neiafu GPS. In the Class 4 competition, all categories were won by Lasalle Talau of Liviela GPS.
In the Class 5 competition, the written and flash examinations were won by Kalisi Malimali of Neiafu GPS. Mele Vainikolo of Liviela GPS won the Oral examination.
According to the Japanese Embassy, Soroban education started in Tonga during 1970’s and has served as one of the foundations of long-standing and strong ties between Tonga and Japan.
Winners
Class 3
Written Examinations: 1. Sione Tukuafu (Neiafu GPS), 2. ‘Eikipeavale Vainikolo (Neiafu GPS), 3. Vakatapu Finau (Neiafu GPS)
Oral Examinations: 1. Sione Tukuafu (Neiafu GPS), 2. Savelina Tupou (Neiafu GPS), 3. Gabriella Mailangi (Neiafu GPS)
Flash Examinations: 1. Sione Tukuafu (Neiafu GPS), 2. Seini ‘Otukolo (Neiafu GPS), 3. Savelina Tupou (Neiafu GPS).
Class 4
Written: 1. Lasalle Talau (Liviela GPS), 2. Litia Ta’ufo’ou (Liviela GPS), 3. Kalolaine Fa (Neiafu GPS)
Oral: 1. Lasalle Talau (Liviela GPS), 2. ‘Epenisa Sikalu (Toula GPS), 3. Mele Fa’aumu (Liviela GPS)
Flash: 1. Lasalle Talau (Liviela GPS), 2. Tupou Lepolo (Neiafu GPS), 3. ‘Epenisa Sikalu (Toula)
Class 5
Written: 1. Kalisi Malimali (Neiafu GPS), 2. William Pulotu (Toula GPS), 3. Mele Vainikolo (Liviela GPS)
Oral: 1. Mele Vainikolo (Liviela GPS), 2. Sione Fotu (Neiafu GPS), 3. Kesiliti To’ia (Leimatu’a GPS)
Flash: 1. Kalisi Malimali (Neiafu GPS), 2. Kesiliti To’ia (Leimatu’a GPS), 3. Sione Fotu (Neiafu GPS).