The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints LDS have more schools in Tonga than anywhere else in the world, the Commissioner of the LDS Church Education System, Elder Paul V. Johnson told Matangi Tonga during a one-day stop over in Tonga to attend the annual conference of Pacific Principals' of LDS church schools at Liahona  on March 8.

Elder Johnson said the LDS church have 17 middle and high schools throughout the world, and 15 of those schools are in the Pacific, in Tonga, Fiji, Samoa and Kiribati, and seven of the 15 schools in the Pacific are in Tonga.

He said that Tonga have more church schools, because of the large members of the Tongan LDS congregation of 15,000.

With regards to the standard of education in church school in the Pacific, Elder Johnson said he was very happy with the reports of the principals, " I was really interested to hear personally the schools' reports and the progress that they have achieved, that is why I came and I am very happy with the reports from the principals . . ."

"I was impressed with the excel of English being spoken and written at Liahona High School which has vastly improved in comparison with the past," said Elder Johnson who had visited Tonga before.

He emphasised that at the Liahona campus English is spoken all the times. "This is because English is an international language that will be used when our graduates continue with their studies abroad or go on church missions, so it is vital for them to be fluent in English. At the same time though Tongan is still important and will be taught by the schools," he said.

Elder Johnson said that the Liahona campus is currently expanding its vocational training program and they are introducing wood works and other technical skills.

Elder Paul V. Johnson returned home to Salt Lake City, USA on March 9.