From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 2, August 2002.

Giving children freedom to create, play, make friends and learn while having fun in a specially prepared environment is what ‘Alisi Fifita (26) offers at her new pre-school in Nuku‘alofa.

‘Alisi in January this year set up her own Casa Dei Bambini Montessori Pre-School where she is the only teacher.

Casa Dei Bambini is Italian for “Children’s House” and it is named after the Montessori’s first school that was established in Rome in 1907.  

‘Alisi began her career as an Assistant Teacher at the Tonga International Montessori School in 1998, before going to London, in England, to complete a Course Certificate on the Theory and Practice of Montessori Method of Education from the International Montessori Education Center of Teachers Training.

On her return to Tonga in 2001 she thought about starting her own pre-school, but that idea did not come into reality until January 2002.

‘Alisi now has 22 children enrolled, ranging from two to five years old.

“At my pre-school the philosophy of Montessori applies, which is giving children the encouragement and freedom to learn with my guidance,” she said.

‘Alisi also said that children of these ages needed an atmosphere that was warm and understanding so that they could develop as an individual and as a group.

She hoped in the near future that she could also set up her own Montessori Primary School so that the Montessori system can run smoothly from age six and upwards.