There will be no more national examinations for Form 5 students in Tonga starting from this year, the Prime Minister Hon H’uakavameiliku (Siaosi Sovaleni) told a press conference yesterday, 9 March.

He said government wanted to shift the focus to Forms 6 and 7 national examinations.

Major factors leading to the change included international minimum educational requirements and the current COVID-19 lockdown restricting students from returning to the classroom.

“This is the fifth week students have not been able to return to school.”

He said that there will be no opening of schools while COVID-19 positive case numbers continue to rise. A total of 1220 people tested postive todate, with 854 cases still active.

The Ministry of Education had discussions with all stakeholders, including church schools, on the issue, before government decided to discontinue the Form 5 National Examination.

The decision may help to reduce the number of students dropped out of school annually.

The Prime Minister said form 5 students who wished to apply to technical and vocational training such as TVET or TIST could do so with their school examination results.