Story and photos by Linny Folau

The 2022 Dux of Tonga High School and Head Girl, Malia Mafi, received her awards during the government secondary school’s prize giving ceremony on 9 December.

Awarded first place in her Form 7 class, Malia was presented with cash prizes and trophies by the the guest of honour, HRH Princess Pilolevu Tuita, at the Queen Salote Memorial Hall.

Malia is the daughter of Dr. Maletino and Siosi Mafi of Nuku'alofa. Her older sister, Malia Sosefo Mafi was Dux of Tonga High School in 2013

The Proxime Accessit this year was awarded to Kafo’ou Manu, the Deputy Head Girl.

Two prestigious prizes of $2,000 pa’anga each from HM King Tupou were awarded to the ‘Best Student in Foreign Languages’, Malia Lea, while ‘Best Student in Science’ was awarded to Malia Mafi.

The dux was also awarded a cash prize of $1,000 pa’anga for Best All Round student.

At the same time, the Chinese Embassy awarded cash prizes to five top students in the Chinese language. 

Other academic prizes were presented to top students in each form, along with other special prizes.

An earlier graduation ceremony was held on 6 December for graduating Form 7 students, who were awarded Certificates of Completion.

Overcoming a tough year   

In her address, the Princess congratulated students for achieving their education in what has been a challenging and eventful year in Tonga.

She noted a historical milestone on the 75^th anniversary of the school's establishment.

“In 2022 there have been a multitude of events worldwide and for us in Tonga we were eyewitnesses to a number of these events...

“This included the arrival of COVID-19 in Tonga, the Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha’apai volcanic eruption, which resulted in tsunami waves.”

She also recognised the Tonga Tala Netball Team remained undefeated in a couple of international tournaments.

“Looking at these events, I can only say that God is still firmly in control and is still firmly on his throne. That has given me immoveable hope, after all that we have gone through this year,” said the Princess.

The Prime Minister Hon. Hu'akavameiliku congratulated the students for achieving the end of this academic year, and he announced the start of a National University in 2023.

Tonga High School was established by King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV 75-years ago.

The prize giving ceremony was one of many held by government and private schools this week throughout Tonga, marking the end of 2022.