NEW and updated workbooks for Tonga's Primary school students were handed over by the New Zealand High Commissioner to Tonga, HE Dr Jonathan Austin, to the Minister of Education, Women's Affairs and Culture, Hon Dr 'Ana Taufe'ulungaki, on Friday, February 4.

The 110,000 workbooks included 21 different types of pupil books for Class 1-6 Primary School students in four key learning areas, Science, Mathematics, English and the Tongan language.
In addition are Teachers Guides, resource and reading materials.

The books were printed in New Zealand by Landeman and Mint Print Ltd. at a cost of $TOP600,000, paid for by the New Zealand government. The Managing Director of Landeman and Mint, Mike Wood was in Nuku'alofa for the handing over at the Ministry of Education's Curriculum Unit, Nuku'alofa.

Dr Austin said that New Zealand was pleased to be a part in developing this range of teacher and student learning materials, which will introduce a new approach to teaching and learning that will give students the tools needed for their future endeavours.

"We hope the new school materials will promote renewed interest for the student in the classroom and help teachers deliver effective lessons," he said.

Education materials

Hon Dr 'Ana Taufe'ulungaki thanked the New Zealand Government and its taxpayers for their generous support, which she was certain will make real difference to the education of children in Tonga and to their achievements.

She pointed out one of the main drawbacks for the effective delivery of basic education in Tonga has been the lack of quality teaching and learning printed materials.

'Ana said the curriculum reform that had been introduced could not be developed because there were no students' workbooks.

She was confident that these quality students' workbooks, the Teachers Guides, resources, books and syllabus books that are part of the new curriculum would improve student learning.

"The Ministry has made a pledge that failure is not an option for any of our children and with these materials we can make sure that every child will succeed," she said.

The workbooks will be distributed by the ministry to all primary schools in Tonga in the next few weeks.