33 happy scholars [1]
Sunday, March 30, 2003 - 09:54. Updated on Friday, March 18, 2016 - 17:37.
From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 18, no. 1, March 2003.
Do you want to know why 33 young people were chatting, smiling and laughing at the New Zealand High Commissioner’s residence on the evening of March 7?
They were celebrating because they had been awarded with scholarships for a year’s study in five local institutions: ‘Atenisi Institute, Tupou Business and Computer Centre, Tonga Institute of Science and Technology, and the University of the South Pacific Extension Centre.
The New Zealand High Commissioner, Warwick Hawker, said that the In-Country Awards pilot scheme was launched in 2000, and was primarily for those who may not be able to afford to continue with their studies otherwise. “We have received very good feedback, and we hope that a review scheduled for later this year will lead to it being strengthened as an important part of NZAID’s assistance to human resource development in Tonga.”
He said that the selection process took into consideration socio-economic backgrounds of the applicants and they also looked at students from the outer islands, bearing in mind the human developments needs of Tonga.
Warwick said that the scheme was the only one of its kind in the world and it was in line with the philosophy of New Zealand’s aid program for in country study programmes and to encourage vocational training.
The scheme was estimated to cost $NZ50,000 annually, a very small amount when compared to the cost of sending one scholarship student overseas.