Photos by Linny Folau

Palu Vulase Teumohenga (18) Dux of Tonga High School for 2015 plans to continue her studies to become a doctor at Fiji School of Medicine next year.

A Form 7 student residing in Longolongo, she topped physics, chemistry, mathematics with statistics, and mathematics with calculus.

She was also awarded King Tupou VI’s prize for Best Student in Science of $2,000 pa’anga. As Dux, she also received the special annual award of NZD$1,000 from the Tonga High School Ex-Students Papaioea Chapter Palmerston North and $1,000 pa'anga from Fungafaaimata Club from Palo Alto, USA.

"I am very thankful to God for the opportunity to excel," she said.

Palu comes from a family of academic achievers because both her older brother and sister were Proxime Accessit in 2012 and 2014.

Dulcenea Palu was awarded Proxime Accessit of the government secondary school this year.

Marks controversy 

Princess Pilolevu in awarding the prizes for Dux said the academic achievement of the students is something to be proud of with most of them achieving the motto of the school, "Ki he Lelei Taha (To the Best)".

“You have achieved this excellence in academic performance in spite of the current controversy over the marking of examination papers. I apologise that I don’t have any contribution to this issue and to the merits or demerits of either raw marks or standardization. I leave that to the academics, but on the other hand I am concerned about the effects it has on our students,“ she said.

The Princess said she only hoped that the time would come soon when the Education Authorities come up with the solution that would not adversely affect the performance of students.

She also reminded students that when they entered this school it was not only for the purpose of achieving excellence and academic performance.

"There is another side to the school motto and that is you cannot leave this school with only a satisfactory report on your academic performance or your education is not complete. You should leave the gates of the school with the satisfaction that you have achieved both academic, moral and character excellence."

Meanwhile, Principal 'Amelia Folaumahina confirmed to Matangi Tonga, they had used raw marks in assessing the awards.