A former school principal and Acting CEO, Mr. Isikeli Ngalu Oko was appointed as the new CEO for the Ministry of Education and Training yesterday by the Office of the Public Service Commission.

He signed his contract and took his oath before the  Prime Minister, Hon. Hu'akavameiliku, and Minister for Education & Training, witnessed by Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Simione Sefanaia, and members.

Mr. Oko, who comes from Niutoua, Afa, Tongatapu and Ha'ano, Ha'apai, was accompanied by his family.

His career in the Public Service began in January 1986, when he was appointed as an Assistant Graduate Teacher at the Ministry of Education and Training.

In 1992, he was promoted to the position of Senior Lecturer and Acting Principal for the Niuafo’ou District High School at Niuafo’ou and in 1993 as a Senior Lecturer and Course Coordinator for the Community Development Training Center (CDTC) of the Ministry of Education and Training. Since then, Mr. Oko has taken up various senior positions at the Ministry. He was promoted in the years 2000 - 2002 to the positions; Deputy Principal of the Tonga College ‘Atele in Tongatapu and Vava’u High School in Vava’u.

In 2003, he was promoted as the Principal for ‘Eua High School for two years, Principal for CDTC from 2006 – 2008 and Principal for Tonga College ‘Atele from 2009 – 2011. In April 2011 he was promoted to the position of Chief Education Officer, in June 2016 as Deputy CEO for the Learning and Teaching Division (Primary Education), and in October 2021 as Deputy CEO for Learning and Teaching Division (Secondary Education). He has been the Acting CEO for the Ministry since November 2022.

Mr. Oko holds a Master of Public Administration from Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand (2008), a Bachelor in Agriculture from the University of the South Pacific in Fiji (1985), and a Diploma of Teaching from the Auckland College of Education in New Zealand (1989).