Over 3,400 senior students throughout Tonga are starting their national exams this week, including Form 5 students who have been brought back into the Tonga School Certificate (TSC) national examination.

The CEO for the Ministry of Education, 'Isikeli Oko told Matangi Tonga on 14 November, that 3,402 senior students are taking the national exams.

Returning to the national exam this year, are 1,321 Form 5 students. It has been three years since the Form 5 level was discontinued from the national exam, under a 2022 decision made by the former Prime Minister Hon. H’uakavameiliku (Siaosi Sovaleni), as Minister for Education, during the COVID-19 restrictions.

This year, the new government decided to recommence the Tonga School Certificate (TSC) Form 5 examination.

'Isikeli Oko said there were 1,418 students sitting the Tonga Form Six Certificate (TFSC), the highest number of students in the senior level, this year.

However, there wre only 663 Form 7 students taking the Tonga National Form Seven Certificate (TNFSC).

The two-weeks exams started on 10 November and will run until Friday, 21 November.

There are 26 high schools participating in the national exam.

In Tongatapu, exams are held in the Tonga High School Indoor Stadium and the Tailulu Falemasiva Hall.