Tonga High School may become the first Government school to be run by a Board of Governors under a new pilot project, the Director of Education, Dr Uili Fukofuka told the school at its prize giving ceremony that was held on Friday April 27.

"The government is thinking about establishing Boards of Governors to run schools, and the Minister thinks they could start at Tonga High School, as a pilot project to set up a Board to run the school. The Board will also raise finance to supplement what the Government funds, and the board will also recruit the teachers and manage the school," he said.

The Director was the keynote speaker at the Prize Giving Ceremony for last year's students. The 2006 Prize Giving was not held at the end of last year following the disruption caused by November 16 riots, and the school's administrative challenges following the civil servants redundancy programme.

Dux

The THS Dux and Best All Round Student for 2007, Rosalie Mapa, returned to Tonga from California to receive her prizes, as she along with many of the 2006 Form 7 prize-winners had already left Tonga to pursue further studies overseas.

Rosalie, who won the Accounting, Information Technology, Mathematics/Statistics and French subject prizes, was also the school's Head Girl last year, and wearing her school uniform once again, led the students in a rousing cheer for the keynote speaker.

The prize for Proxime Accesit to Dux went to 'Akanesi Katoa of Pahu, who also won the Geography and History subject prizes.

Other Form 7 subject prizes went to Laura Lolohea (English); Sesilia Mafi (Mathematics/Calculus); Sioape Kupu (Biology and Chemistry); 'Ana Pifeleti (Physics); and Moleni Ika (Economics).

Senitila Tutone who was the Acting Principal 2006, said Tonga High School had 1,345 students last year, with 867 girls and 480 boys. During the year the roll dropped by 105 students.

2007 Sports Success

Kalala Unu, the Principal for 2007, said that THS had come third in the recent 2007 Inter-College Sports winning 19 gold medals, 9 silver medals and 13 bronze medals. However, in the Midget to Senior grades THS had won the most medals.

Awards for the successful athletes were also presented at the prize-giving ceremony.

Outstanding athletes included Senior Girls: Silia Falesiva of Longolongo, with five gold medals and one bronze medal; and Luisa Taufatofua with three gold medals. The relay teams of Silia, Luisa, Marion Tu'ipulotu and Selai Tonga won the gold in the Senior Girls 4 x 100m relay; while the relay team of Belinda Talakai, Taufa 'Ofahulu, Wendy Feke and Ma'ata Mafi won the gold in the Midget Girls 4 x 100m.

In the Midget Girls, Belinda Talakai won four gold medals, one silver and one bronze medal.

In the Midget Boys Mosese T. Latu of Longolongo won four gold medals and one bronze medal.

In the Junior Girls ' Akanete Leone o Lapaha won two gold medals in the long and triple jump; while in the Intermediate Girls Kalina Mama'o of Tokomalolo won the gold for the Long Jump; and in the Intermediate Boys, Tevita Puniani won the gold medal for the Triple Jump.