Tonga's Certificate and Diploma in Media and Journalism Class has received new sets of equipment amounting to $20,000 from the Pacific Island News Association through the assistance of AUSAid.

The equipment that ranged from computers, a laptop, digital camera, video camera, photocopier and a printer will help to enhance the skills of students under the journalism program at the Tonga Institute of Higher Education.

The journalism program began in 2007 with eight working journalists who became the first to graduate with Certificates and Diplomas in Media and Journalism in 2008-09. The journalism class now attracts 14 new students to the certificate class with four completing their diploma course.

The Director of Education Dr Viliami Fukofuka who received the equipment from PINA representative Tapinga Lavemaau on March 3, thanked Australia and PINA for the donation.

He said this year in Tonga has some important upcoming events and the role of journalists in providing information would be even more vital so these new equipment would indeed help prepare them.