Results for Education

Tonga’s Education System is “bad”, Tonga’s Minister of Education and Prime Minister Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva told a gathering at the Loumaile Lodge Nuku’alofa on Thursday, 26 May.

Up to 30 new awards are being offered to Tongans to study in Australia and the Pacific in 2017, and students will be selected through a competitive process managed by the Australian High Commission in consultation with the Government of Tonga.

Michaela Mapakaitolo (18) of Tonga High School is Tonga’s nominee for a two-week study tour to Japan this year, after winning the 7th Japanese Speech Contest open-category on Friday, 22 April in Nuku’alofa.

A leaked government report on a rushed reform of Tonga’s education system in 2015 reveals confusion and concern within the Ministry and points to serious systemic failures that will take years to sort out. But the report, which apparently upset the Prime Minister, has not been officially released.

Elder Kim B. Clark, LDS Church Commissioner of Education, visiting Tonga from March 17-19, said the number of LDS students in the Pacific is growing and they are going to invest more in their schools in Tonga - to get better at teaching and learning. But school fighting will not be tolerated by the church and if it became the nature of a school then the church would shut it down.

Soroban student, Sandy Falemaka from ‘Ohonua has won a trip to Japan after winning the written category in Class 5, while her team from 'Eua Government Primary Schools won the sixth Tonga National Soroban Competition on 17 March, in Nuku’alofa. Photos by Linny Folau.

A proposed new university for Tonga’s capital - reportedly inaugurated by Prime Minister, ‘Akilisi Pohiva in February, has not been properly assessed and accredited.

Encouraging overseas born Tongan youth to spend some time in Tonga and to attend schools in Tonga, through a properly structured program, could help to foster stronger connections with second and third generation offspring of migrants, a new report recommends. But the report also reveals that for students having little or no preparation for a change of lifestyle, settling in to high school is very challenging and can even be dangerous.

More than 400 graduates from three Government tertiary institutes received their certificates and diplomas today, 9 December during a Combined Awards Ceremony, at Queen Salote Memorial Hall.