Over 100 ‘Ofa Atu’ picture books and 1,540 sorobans were gifted to the Ministry of Education and Training by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) today, 27 August.

JICA Resident Representative Mr Hiroaki Takashima handed over the items to Deputy CEO of the Primary School Division, Isikeli Oko at the LDS building at Teufaiva.

The ‘Ofa atu picture book was put together by some JICA volunteers who had worked in Tonga. It portrays a week in the life of a Tongan boy, linking it to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Mr Takashima said they came up with this idea and produced this book hoping that Tongans could recognize the beauty of their lifestyle in relation to the SDGs.

Banana paper

“Although the paper of this book has a texture of the traditional Tongan tapa cloth, the book is printed on a special banana paper, which demonstrates a way of reusing banana stalks.”

The books were printed and bound by Seiko Epson Corp. and are to be distributed to all primary schools in Tongatapu, Vava’u, Ha’apai, ‘Eua and the two Niua’s.

Meanwhile, the sorobans were donated under the ‘Smile for all in the world’ program.

The principal goal of this program is to connect people in Japan and other countries through JICA volunteers, said Mr Takashima.

“Several people, companies and Ono city have donated these sorobans with the hope that it will help children’s mathematics skills and to further develop the relationship between the two countries.”

Ono city of Hyogo Prefecture, also known as “Soroban town” for its production of Banshu soroban, has been a major donor of sorobans.

In Tonga, soroban classes are held in government primary schools as part of their maths curriculum and an annual soroban competition is held throughout the island groups.

JICA has been sending volunteers to Tonga in the field of Soroban and Primary Education since 1989.