Photos and story by Linny Folau

Striking teachers marched through central Nuku'’alofa today, this time to present a letter of petition calling for the dismissals of the Director of Education, Viliami Takau, and three of his deputies.

Addressed to the Head of the Public Service Commission, the Prime Minister Prince 'Ulukalala Lavaka Ata, the petition was presented by PSA President, Finau Tutone, at the Prime Minister's Office. It was received by Paula Ma'u, Acting Secretary of the Prime Minister...’s Office.

The two point petition from striking teachers, and signed by Finau Tutone and Penisimani Fifita, requested the dismissal of Viliami Takau from his position as the Director of Education, and also the dismissal of Tatafu Moeaki, Peaua Heimuli and Tupou Taufa from their positions as Deputy Directors.

The petition outlined the teachers' dissatisfaction regarding decisions and comments made by the Director and his deputies over the period of the national strike.

The energetic crowd, which consisted of over 400 teachers and civil servants strikers, began their march from the Basilica led by Finau Tutone and Vili Vete together with other Senior Education officers and teachers.



The march then proceeded along Taufa'ahau Road to the Ministry of Education office where the chanting crowd filled the office parking and poured onto the road.

The Minister of Education Hon. Rev. Tevita Palefau came out from his office greeted the teachers from the balcony and also received a copy of the letter of petition.

The Minister thanked the crowd for the letter and told them he was aware that many hearts are scarred from this crisis and he apologized for it.

He reminded them to always do what is good and what is right because God will reward each one in the end, he then concluded by saying a prayer before marchers returned back to their base at Pangai Si'i.

At Pangai the crowd danced and sang as the DJ played the music.

Withdrawn from arbitration

Meanwhile, there was no further word from the PSA today, Tuesday, regarding their political objectives.

Instead, this morning, they issued a press release officially announcing that they had on Saturday withdrawn from the arbitration process, "due to to the differences with government on the preconditions outlined".

They reiterated that they would continue the strike to achieve "the original objective of 60, 70 and 80% increases in salary and the termination of the newly introduced salary model...and that our quest [is] to achieve our goals of "Justice for All" in our own country".