The reconstruction of three buildings with 13 classrooms that were damaged by Severe Tropical Cyclone Gita in February 2018, was celebrated this morning with speeches, singing and prayers at the Government Primary School, Nuku'alofa.

The $1,275,380 pa'anga reconstruction project was jointly funded by the World  Bank and the Australian Government. An Australian Company, Cardno, designed the buildings and supervised the construction work carried out by a local company, the South Seas Contractors.

The Australian High Commissioner, HE Mr Adrian Morrison, and Tonga’s World Bank Representative Mrs Natalia Latu, and Tonga's Minister of Education Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni attended. Thanks were given by CEO of the Ministry of Education and Training, Dr Tangikina Moimoi Steen.

Under a Pacific Resilience Program (PREP), the World Bank and Australia have allocated USD$33.89 million to enable Pacific Island countries to withstand natural disasters. The program was launched in March 2019 and is expected to be completed by March 2021.

Natalia said that 25 schools in Tonga will benefit, with 44 school buildings, housing 112 classrooms, being built under the program.