New classrooms for Holonga [1]
Friday, February 12, 2021 - 16:09
A new classroom building for Holonga Government Primary School was commissioned on February 11, under a recovery program for schools damaged by Tropical Cyclone Gita in 2018.
The three classroom building was constructed with $434,945 pa'anga under a Pacific Resilience Program (PREP) co-funded by the World Bank and the Australian Government, led by MEIDECC.
Australian High Commissioner HE Mr Adrian Morrison encouraged the young students to make the most of the opportunity that the new classrooms offers them.
“Appreciate the investment in your country, school and teachers are making in you. If you study and work hard you will improve your lives and the lives of your families.”
The construction of these classrooms is part of the Pacific Resilience Project led by the World Bank to undertake similar construction and reconstruction projects at some 25 schools. Australia was very pleased to support the Resilience Project, he said.
CEO for the Ministry of Education, Tangikina Steen thanked the Australian Government for its ongoing support and dedication to building and developing education in Tonga.
"This is not only visible in the school buildings, but in many other aspects of education that is directly and indirectly impacted on achieving quality education in Tonga,” she said.
The World Bank has funded many school buildings in Tonga, including this building.
"The Ministry is and will forever be grateful for all your support of education in Tonga. You have also contributed to many things, curriculum and assessments reviews as well as exploring the most appropriate information systems for the Ministry," she said.
The PREP project includes repairing and reconstructing school buildings that were damaged by Tropical Cyclone Gita that hit Tonga and ‘Eua in February 2018.
There are 25 schools in the project, which costs approximately $28 million pa'anga.
Holonga is situated on the eastern district of Tongatapu.