From the House, Minute No. 38, Monday 6 September 2004

- The new Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sonatane Tu'akinamolahi Taumoepeau Tupou took his oath.

- A letter from the Chief Secretary and the Secretary to Cabinet informing the House of a restructure of government ministries and the appointment of new ministers.

- Debate continued with the Bill for the establishment of the Qualification and Accreditation Board.

- General debate over the election of members of the board.

- General comments on the state of education in the country.

Speaker - called on the new Ministers for Foreign Affairs, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice to come forward to take their oath. He also called the interim Minister of Education as a witness to the occasion.

Clerk - read the oath, I here swear in the presence of God, that I'll obey His Majesty Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, the King of Tonga and I'll uphold the true meaning and the value of the Constitution of Tonga, and to fulfil my duty as a member of parliament diligently and faithfully.

The new Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sonatane Tu'akinamolahi Taumoepeau Tupou repeated and then signed, witnessed by the new Attorney General Hon. Fielakepa and the interim Minister of Education Paul Bloomfield.

Speaker - asked the clerk to read a letter from the Prime Minister's office.

Clerk - the letter was to inform the House of new Ministers of the King who were appointed, back dated to August 24:

Prince Lavaka Ata 'Ulukalala, the Premier of Tonga, Minister for Civil Aviation, Minister of Communication, Minister and Marine and Harbours, Minister of Works, Minister of Defence and also responsible for the Auditor Department.

Semisi Sesolo Koka (James Cecil Cocker), Deputy Premier and the Minister for Internal Affairs, Department of Police, prison and Fire Services, Department of Labour and Commerce, Department of Central Planning, Department of Tourism and also responsible for the Development of Affairs Unit.

Fielakepa, the Minister of Land, survey and Natural Resources, Attorney General and the Minister of Law.

Sonatane T. T. Tupou ...– Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Speaker - said that a copy of the letter would be put on the notice board. He wanted some clarification if the Ministry of Police and the Ministry of Labour had became departments.

Premier - said that a Ministry of Internal Affairs has not been established, and for the meantime existing ministries remain. He said that the structure of existing government ministries remain while change would take place gradually.

Speaker - called on the clerk to read a letter from the Select Committee of the House.

Clerk - the acting Chairman of the Select Committee the former Minister of Law, 'Aisea Taumoepeau said that following a petition that was presented to the House from the directors of private schools the committee had discussions with these directors. They were then putting forward four proposals:

1. For the Board responsible for Qualification and Accreditation to remain under the Minister of Education.

2. to return the Bill to the board for Kindergarten, Primary Schools and Colleges in accordance with the Letter of the Interim Minister of Education.

3. they agree with the amendment that has been made to the Bill and for the board to remain independent.

4. For members of the Board not to be named.

The Legislature dissolved into Committee and the Chairman of the Whole House Committee Noble Tu'i'afitu took his Chair.

Chairman - called for debate to continue with the Bill for the establishment of a Board responsible for Qualification and Accreditation.

'Etuate Lavulavu - said he was a member of the Select Committee and that when the committee meeting finished, there were still disagreements. He also pointed out that two of the members of the committee, the Minister of Police and the Minister of Justice were no longer in the House. He proposed for four members of the Board to be nominated by the Minister of Education and the other three to be elected by the people of Tonga.

Chairman - reminded the member that they have already passed Clause 4, which dealt with the membership of the Board.

Dr Feleti Sevele > - said that three of the six members of the Board would be elected from nominations from outside. He moved for the House to vote the proposition of the select committee.

'Etuate Lavulavu - said that the Board was structured like a commercial company, and if that was the case then it should be administered like one.

Noble Tu'ivakano - pointed out to the member that in law making, the details of how it was going to be administered would follow once the Bill became law.

'Etuate Lavulavu - insisted that some members of the board should be elected by the people.

Minister of Health - said that the member did not understand the fact that only those who were involved in a certain activity should nominated the right kind people to run such an organisation. He said that it would be unwise to do other wise.

Premier - suggested for a qualification to be set for candidates. He said that it would be more useful for the member to move for example that only Phd degree holder would be eligible to be nominated as members of the board.

'Akilisi Pohiva - commented on how a decision was made in the Ministry of Education, then it was overturned by another authority. He was hoping that nothing of that sort would happen with the Board, that it would make a decision and then it was overturned.

'Etuate Lavulavu - continued to stress his view that the public should elect three members to the Board.

He also expressed his concern that education in Tonga put too much emphasis on academic studies, and as a result there was a lack of technical skill people, who were needed to build the economy.

'Akilisi Pohiva - said he visited the Marine School during the MPs tour of Tongatapu and he was surprised with all the different technical courses which were offered at the school up to certificate level. He said that all the technical skills the country needs could be catered for by the Marine School.

<b - wanted to know what education system the Board would be affiliated with.

Minister of Education - related attempts to establish an education system for the region and Tonga has also looked at the issue, and work continued but he said that the Board was one of the processes.

'Etuate Lavulavu - proposed for the word development to be added on to sub-section (a) of Clause 8. He said that was important to instill in the mind of students that the purpose of their education was for the development of the country.

'Akilisi Pohiva - did not think it was needed to add on development, because it was understood that was why students went to school.

Chairman - called for vote 'Etuate Lavulavu's amendment and it was rejected 10-6. For it were 'akilisi Pohiva, 'Isileli Pulu, Trevor Guttenbeil, 'Etuate Lavulavu, 'Uliti Uata and Noble Vaha'i.

'Akilisi Pohiva - a former school teacher told the House that what was needed most in the Tongan education system was a change of attitude. He said that there was a long-standing mind-set in most Tongans was that an educated person worked in an office. The 80% of the school leavers who failed to become doctors, lawyers, accountants etc. just drift out into the society and become unemployed.

Prime Minister - reminded the member that people have human rights, and they have the right to choose what they want to learn. He said that the responsibility of government was to provide the opportunities.

'Akilisi Pohiva - said that they should not force people, but it was the responsibility of government to try and change the attitude. He said that most Tongans are converted Christians and they are investing in life after death, they would bear the hardship in this life with the belief that they would be rewarded when they got to heaven. He said that this kind of attitude was directly opposite to capitalist system that has been introduced where the attitude was to make the highest profit at the lowest cost. He said that that was why Tongans remain poor because he would go and spend all his weekly earnings in a koniseti and in the Kava Club where he would drink kava until morning, and then all day the next day.