Results for Education

Nine Pacific Islander students in New Zealand were among 13 recipients of the Woolf Fisher First-in-Family AUT Scholarship to study at the Auckland University of Technology (AUT). All of the recipients are the first in their immediate families to attend university and this year five are Tongans.

Prime Minster, Hon Samuela ‘Akilisi Pohiva has relinquished his Education and Training ministerial portfolio to Hon. Penisimani Fifita from today, 16 January 2017. The PM becomes Minister of Internal Affairs in a re-assignment of portfolios that was granted by the King.

Two girls excelled in Tonga High School's 2016 academic year, with the Dux awarded to Sela Tupou Patisepa Maka (18) and Proxime Accessit to Kalolaine Launga Fa'anunu (17) at the prize giving ceremony held today, December 2, at Queen Salote Memorial Hall, Nuku'alofa. The Best All Round student was also a girl, Sokapeti Vite. Photos by Linny Folau.

A group of 22 United States Peace Corps volunteers were sworn-in today Thursday, November 3, at the Tanoa International Dateline Hotel before they take up assignments teaching English in rural village schools in Tongatapu and the outer islands. U.S Ambassador to Tonga Judith Cefkin said that next year marks the 50th Anniversary of Peace Corps in Tonga.

Petitioners who are concerned with the leadership of Hon ‘Akilisi Pohiva as Minister for Education and Training, this morning presented a petition to the Speaker of the House Lord Tu’ivakano from a Working Committee of educators. They cite "maladministration, incompetency, destruction or embezzlement of government property" and creating "difficulties with another country".

Six young students who topped a written Soroban examination in Class 3-4 will represent Ha’apai Primary Schools in the National Soroban competition in Nuku’alofa in March next year.

In 2015 there were 151 Tongan nationals studying in the People’s Republic of China according to the country’s Department of North American & Oceanian Affairs. Of the 151 students in China, 99 were scholarship students.

The most serious challenge confronting the Tongan society today is the physical health of our people, HM King Tupou VI said, when he opened the 2016-17 session of parliament this morning, 2 June, in a thoughtful speech that also challenged legislators to educate Tonga's children for global employment, and urged them to engage with all stake holders in the economy and not unilaterally change operating conditions, that may stifle growth.

Laluna Kahuna comments: The whole education system in Tonga needs an overhaul. Starting with the hot shots in Ministry of Education, school Principals, teachers etc. Start by sacking all those teachers who do not turn up for school to teach or for lack of teaching, those who physically, mentally and emotionally abuse the students, eating students lunches, having favourites - just to mention a few of the issues wrong with the education here. Tonga's education is still 30-40 years behind the rest of the world.