Photos by Linny Folau

More than 200 graduates from two Government tertiary institutes received their certificates and diplomas from HM Queen Nanasipau'u on December 6 during a Combined Awards Ceremony, at Queen Salote Memorial Hall.

The Tonga Institute of Education (TIOE) awarded Diplomas in Education to teachers in primary and secondary levels.

The Tonga Institute of Higher Education (TIHE) graduates were awarded certificates and diplomas in information technology, accounting, media and journalism, agricultural science, tourism and hospitality.

The Queen congratulated the students on their achievement and commended families for their support.

"We have just finished celebrating the success of our Mate Ma’a Tonga rugby league team and I am thankful to their parents, families and grandparents for how they have brought them up," she said.

The Queen said she mentioned the Mate Ma’a Tonga because of their spirit of unity playing together on and off the field and the importance for all of us to take this example and maintain it. “The spirit of victory.”

She said an essence of this spirit is sacrifice, not standing alone but working together and applying it also to the field of education, dance, sports or business to elevate our country.

This is one of the final awards ceremonies for Tonga this year, which saw proud parents presenting beautiful garlands for their children.