Country Profile: Tonga

Geography

Area	748 sq km, 289 sq mi (total) 717 sq km, 277 sq mi (land)
Capital	Nuku'alofa
Largest city	Nuku'alofa (23,700 in 2006)
Other large cities	main towns, not cities: Mu’a (4,900) & Haveloloto (3,400) on Tongatapu; Neiafu (4,300) on Vava’u; Pangai (1,700) on Lifuka in the Ha’apai group of islands; Ohonua (1,300) on Eua.
Climate	tropical, modified by Trade Winds
Time Difference	GMT plus 13 hours

People

Nationality	Tongan(s)
Population (July 2010 est.)	122,580
Annual population growth rate (2010 est.)	1.282%
Age Structure	0-14 years, 36.2 15-64 years, 59.7 65 years and over, 4.2 %
Urbanization	urban population: 25% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 1.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Ethnic groups	Tongan 98%, other Polynesian, European
Languages	Official: Tongan, English
Religion	Christian (Wesleyans, Roman Catholics, Mormons, Anglicans, Church of Tonga, Free Church of Tonga and Seventh Day Adventists)
Life expectancy (2010 est.)	Total 71.03 years; Male 68.46 years, Female 73.73 years
Infant mortality rate	11.28 deaths/1,000 live births

Government

Government type	constitutional monarchy (hereditary)
Head of State	King George Tupou V (2006–)
Independence	4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate)Constitution
Constitution	King George Tupou I’s constitution - 4 November 1875; revised 1 January 1967
Legal system	based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage	universal; from age 21 years
Administrative divisions	3 island groups; Ha'apai, Tongatapu, Vava'u

Education

Literacy (age 15 and over can read & write)	99.2% (2007) Male 99.0, Female 99.1 (2006)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) (2006)	male & female: 13.7
Years compulsory	primary education 9 years, between ages 6 and 14 (since 1876)
Primary to secondary transition rate (2005)	77%
Female Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) - Tertiary Education as a % for School year ending 2008	110%
Male Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) - Tertiary Education as a % for School year ending 2008	113%
Education expenditure	3.9% of GDP (2004) 13.5% of total government expenditure (2003)
Distribution(%) of public expenditure per level (2010)	From 2002: pre-primary N/A primary 59 secondary 34 tertiary N/A unknown 7
Researchers per 1 000 000 inhabitants (FTE)	N/A
Expenditure on R&D as a % of GDP	N/A
Percentage distribution of gross domestic expenditure on research and development by source	N/A

ICT

Telephones - main lines in use (2009)	31,000
Telephones - mobile cellular (2009)	53,000
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants (2009)	50.98
Broadband Internet subscribers per 100 inhabitants (2009)	Fixed 0.96 Mobile 0
Telephone system(2009)	general assessment: competition between Tonga Telecommunications Corporation (TCC) and Shoreline Communications Tonga (SCT) is accelerating expansion of telecommunications SCT granted approval to introduce high-speed digital service for telephone, Internet, and television while TCC has exclusive rights to operate the mobile-phone network international telecom services are provided by government-owned Tonga Telecommunications International (TTI)
International dialling code	676
Internet domain	.to
Internet hosts (2010)	20,847
Internet users (2009)	8,400
Internet users per 100 inhabitants (2007)	84/1000
Computers per 100 inhabitants (2007)	50 PCs/1000
TV sets per 100 people (2007)	70/1000

Overview

Tonga is an archipelago of over 170 islands straddling the International Date Line over 800-kilometers (500 mi.) along a north-south line in the Oceania region. It is about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand and directly south of Samoa. It is east of an area called the Tonga Trench which contains some of the deepest waters of the South Pacific. There are three main island groups: Ha'apai, Tongatapu, Vava'u and 36 of the islands in these groups are inhabited. The capital city of Nuku'alofa is on the largest island, Tongatapu. The islands’ geography is of two types; in the east they are of coral formation with many small coral islands and reefs, in the west they are volcanic. Forest covers about 10% of the total land area. There are active volcanoes on four of the islands, Tofua, whose crater is filled with hot water, and Falcon is an active undersea volcano that sends up lava and ash occasionally.

Tonga’s natural resources are fish, fertile soil, its natural hazards are cyclones, earthquakes and volcanic activity. Environmental risks include deforestation due to land cleared for agriculture and settlement, overhunting of native sea turtle and damage to coral reefs from starfish and coral and shell collectors.

United into a Polynesian kingdom in 1845, Tonga is unique as the only remaining monarchy in the Pacific. The word Tonga means ‘south’. Tongan, an official language, is a Polynesian language closely related to Wallisian (Uvean), Niuean, Hawaiian and Samoan.

Tonga’s economy is a standard South Pacific island economy with a large non-monetary sector and a monetary sector largely dominated by the royal family and nobles. It is heavily dependent on external aid and remittances from its citizens living abroad. Tourism is its second largest source revenue (remittances is 1st) and it has a small manufacturing sector that helps supports exports of agricultural goods, mainly squash, vanilla beans, and yams, cassava, kava, tuna, beche de mer and seaweed. Much of the population is involved in work on plantations and subsistence agriculture.

Polynesians, together with a very small number of Melanesians, make up the largest (98%) ethnic group on Tonga; the rest are European, mixed European, other Pacific Islanders and Chinese immigrants, many of whom came on the Cash for Passports deal that helped to develop some business in Tonga. Two-thirds of the population lives on main island, Tongatapu, though village life and kinship ties continue to be important.

The Christian faith is dominant with a Sunday law that bans all commerce and entertainment Sunday from midnight. Tongans are mainly Methodists, with a number of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons). The social structure is broken into three tiers: the king, the nobles, and the commoners with a division yet there is a reciprocal obligation and responsibility among these groups. There is a defined status and rank in personal relationships, even within families. More than half of the country's population lives abroad, chiefly in Australia, New Zealand and the United States.

Television is state and privately owned. Satellite and cable services are available. There are two state-owned and three privately-owned radio stations and Radio Australia broadcasts can be obtained via satellite. The television states are state-run Television Tonga, and the privately run OBN TV7, Friendly Island Broadcasting Network. Pay TV service is provided by Tonfon TV. Radio stations are the government-operated A3Z Radio Tonga and two private stations: Radio 2000 and Radio Nuku’alofa. Newspapers include the state-owned Tonga Chronicle and New Zealand published Times of Tonga and Talak. Matangi Tonga is a fortnightly news magazine.

Brief History

The Tongan islands have been settled since at least 500 B.C. The first European sighting was in 1616 by Dutch navigators and the Dutch explorer, Abel Tasman, visited the main island, Tongatapu, in 1643. There was little European contact from then until 1773 and 1777 when Captain James Cook arrived and named Tonga, ‘The Friendly Islands’, because he perceived the people had a gentle nature.

The first missionaries, part of London Missionary Society arrived in 1747 and a second, more successful group lead by Walter Lawry of the Wesleyan Missionary Society arrived in 1822. This was to be a turning point for Tonga with civil wars between Christian converts and non-Christian groups until the ruler of Ha’apai, a convert, gained control. He united the islands under Christianity and, in 1845, changed his name to Siaosi (George) and his consort’s to Salote (Charlotte) in honour of the English King (George III) and Queen. This king, George Tupou I, started the present dynasty, established a constitution and a parliamentary government.

Tonga and the United Kingdom signed a treaty of friendship and protection in 1900 with the UK agreeing to handle Tonga’s foreign affairs and external defence. With this treaty, Tonga was granted independence and autonomy and it was revised frequently. Though never formally colonised, Tonga became fully independent on June 4 1970.

Through local traditions the names of Tongan sovereigns have been preserved for about 1,000 years. The monarchy attained its full power in the 13th century, but in the 14th the Kind delegated temporal power to a brother while he retained spiritual authority. This was repeated in a second line and resulted in three distinct lines: Tu'i Tonga with spiritual authority, the Tu'i Ha'atakalaua and the Tu'i Kanokupolu.

The existence of the monarchy and nobility in Tonga has created land issues that are flaring in modern times. All Tongan land belongs to the Crown. The King in 1862 abolished the system of semi-serfdom and stated that every male Tongan reaching 16 years was entitled to rent for his lifetime and at a small fee a plot of bushland and a plot in the village for his home. As it turns out, there is not enough land, and no land has been allocated to many. More recently, there are objections to the exclusion of women in this land tenure system.

Governance

Tonga became a constitutional hereditary monarchy in 1875. The King has highest executive authority in the Privy Council. Under him is a Prime Minister as Head of Government and a Deputy Prime Minister, both elected by and from the members of parliament and appointed by the monarch. The Cabinet is made up of 12-14 ministers, including the Prime Minister as well as the Governors of Ha'apai and Vava'u, ex officio members of the Cabinet. The ministers and governors are appointed by the King, and these are appointments for life, with exceptions. The Legislative branch is made up of the Legislative Assembly, or Fale Alea, who serve four-year terms. The Judiciary is made up of the Privy Council, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court, Land Court and Magistrates' Court.

Currently, there has been political reform resulting from movements that began in the 1990s with the Tongan Pro-Democracy Movement (TPDM) demanding the powers of the monarchy be curtailed. After King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV’s death in 2006, there were violent and destructive riots as a result of the king’s authoritarian rule. The new king expresses support for political reform and several things have shown this to be sincere. In February 2006, Prince 'Ulukalala Lavaka Ata resigned as prime minister and the first commoner prime minister, People's Representative Feleti Sevele, was appointed by the King. In 2009, a Constitutional and Electoral Commission (CEC) was set up and in November 2009 was debated by the Legislative Assembly with the result that, from 2010, there was an increase in the number of people’s representatives, most Assembly members were elected and the king surrendered power to the Prime Minister.

Local government is managed through popularly elected town and district officials. Each town official represents the central government in the villages; the district official has authority over a group of villages.

Regionally, Tonga is member of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community. Internationally, it is a member of the United Nations, the World Trade Organization and the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States.

Education System

a) School education

The education system in Tonga is organised around four basic levels. These are: non-compulsory early childhood education for children aged 3–5 years, Primary Education for ages 6–11 (Classes 1-6), Secondary Education (12–18) and Post-Secondary Education (ages 18 upwards). All children between the ages of six and 14 are legally required to attend school until at least six years of education have been completed. Primary education is also free.

There is a widespread belief that Tongan education is in decline. Schools and other training institutions struggle to keep qualified and experienced teachers. There is a constant loss of personnel to out-migration, driven by the higher wages available overseas. As a result, there are fears that the quality of teaching is falling both at the school level and at the University of South Pacific, where worsening standards in teacher training are a cause of particular concern. This perception of decline is not universal. There are also signs of continued progress in terms of the development of physical infrastructure and technological capacity at the local level.

The continued functioning of the Tongan system depends largely on the contribution made of private agencies, particularly church groups. The government sector predominates only at the primary level. Elsewhere public institutions are outnumbered by their religious counterparts.

Moreover, the functioning of government schools is certainly far from ideal. Large numbers of primary and secondary students repeat grades, and drop-out rates at secondary level are high. There is also concern that secondary education remains too narrowly focused. In particular, government secondary schools provide insufficient attention to skills training necessary to meet the needs of the local economy.

Pre-Primary Level

Pre-primary education is provided in the form of dozens of private kindergartens and early childhood centres managed by community organisations, NGOs and religious bodies across the kingdom.

Primary Level

Primary education is compulsory and free for nine years of education between ages 6 and 14, based on the 1974 Education Act. The Ministry of Education is responsible for the general administration and implementation of policies and programmes in formal education. Most (99%) of primary schools are state-owned.

Secondary Level

About 44% of secondary schools are state-owned. Churches and private organizations provide complementary services within the education sector.

Tonga High School was established in 1947 and aims to achieve a level of education equivalent to that offered in neighbouring countries such as New Zealand and Australia. Tupou College, established in 1866, is a Methodist boys' secondary boarding school on the island of Tongatapu and has about 1,000 pupils. The Ocean of Light International School is an internationalist Bahá'í school.

In 2009, there were 8 government secondary schools and one middle school.

Non-Government Schools

Non-government schools are major education providers. The current number of private secondary schools is unknown, but these substantially outnumber the government-run institutions. The Free Wesleyan Church plays a key role in Tongan education. The FWC runs six colleges as part of its independent schools network. The Church has an Education Office responsible for the interschool allocation of staff and resources, as well as in-service training, curriculum development and staff evaluation.

Other major education providers are the Roman Catholic Church, the Seventh-Day Adventist Church and the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints. These faiths have their own school agencies to co-ordinate the provision of education.

The Bahá'í faith runs the Ocean of Light International School outside Nuku’alofa. The School provides classes from kindergarten (from age 3) to the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) level (14-16 years). Education at the Ocean of Light School is based on the Cambridge International Examinations curriculum.

b) Vocational education and training (VET)

Most higher education is pursued overseas but Tonga has some teacher training, nursing and medical training, a small private university, a women's business college, and a number of private agricultural schools.

The ‘Unuaki-‘o-Tonga Royal University of Technology provides a range of courses in the TVET field. These include associate degrees in accounting and number of medical fields. The Royal University also offers diploma-level programs in the fields of (i) automative and vehicle technology, (ii) electro-technology and electrical engineering, (iii) architecture/drafting, and (iv) handicrafts and carving.

The Queen Salote School of Nursing (QSSN) trains nurses for work in hospitals and health centres, both government and private. The QSSN is administered by the Tonga Ministry of Health.

The Sia’atoutai Theological College (STC) was established by the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga (FWCT) to provide training to lay and ordained minsters. The STC now provides theological training to personnel from a range of Protestant denominations (such as the Church of Tonga and the Anglican Church). Courses on offer include: (i) a Certificate in Theology and Pastoral Ministry; (ii) a Certificate in Theology and Pastoral Ministry with Honours; (iii) a Diploma in Theology; (iv) a Bachelor of Divinity; and (iv) a Bachelor of Divinity with Honours. The STC has an annual intake of about 60 students.

The Tonga Health Training Centre is responsible for training for health officers, public health inspectors, X-ray assistants, laboratory assistants, district medical officers and dental assistants.

The Tonga Institute of Education (TIOE) is the Tongan Government’s teacher training college. The TIOE trains teachers for both government and non-government schools. The TIOE has programs leading to the Diploma of Education (Primary), Diploma of Education (Secondary) and a Diploma in Early Childhood Education program. The TIOE also provides a certificate-level programs and a one-year postgraduate Diploma in Teaching for Graduate Teachers.

The Tonga Institute of Higher Education (TIHE) provides certificates and diplomas in a small range of subjects: (i) accounting and tax, (ii) agriculture, (iii) information technology and computing, and (iv) tourism and hospitality. In addition, the TIHE offers subsidised short-courses in IT-related areas. The Community Development and Training Centre (CDTC) at the TIHE also offers certificates and diplomas in (i) accounting, (ii) computing, (iii) information science, and (iv) media and journalism.

The Tonga Maritime Polytechnic Institute (TMPI) trains deckhands, motormen, stewards and cooks for commercial shipping companies. The Institute also provides certificate-level training in areas such as general engineering, automotive maintenance, electrical repair and carpentry. In addition, the TMPI offers non-formal maritime training to the owners and crew of smaller vessels.

The Police Training Schoolis run by the Ministry of Police and provides basic training for recruits to the Tongan police force, fire and prison services.

Managed by the Free Wesleyan Church, the Tupou Tertiary Institute (TTI) has four schools: (i) Business and Management; (ii) Architectural and Construction Technology; (iii) Information Technology and Communication Technology; and (iv) Teacher Education. Students at the TTI can study for the following qualifications: the NZIM Certificate in Management; Diploma in Business; Diploma in Construction (Level 5); National Diploma in Architectural Technology (Level 6); Certificate of Information Technology; Bachelor of Information Technology; Certificate in Computing; Certificate in Office Administration; Certificate in Teaching; and a Diploma in Teaching. Teaching qualifications are offered only to teachers in Free Wesleyan Church schools.

The TTI offers NZ-accredited study programs in association with New Zealand institutions. Courses in business, management and technology are delivered in collaboration with the Whitireia Community Polytechnic. Programs in architecture and construction are in conjunction with the Wellington Institute of Technology. The Teacher Education program is provided with the Bethlehem Tertiary Institute. In addition, the TTI teaches USP foundation courses. The TTI campus is also the site of training academies run by ITU and Cisco.

The FWC also manages Hango Agricultural College, which offers agricultural training to school leavers and adults. Courses up to diploma level are available in conjunction with Massey University.

The Tonga Defence Force Royal School of Science offers programmes up to a Bachelor's level on Defence and Information Technology. In addition, the Tonga Defence Force offers training to service personnel in areas such construction, electrical and motor mechanics and computer technology.

The government subsidises three Catholic schools providing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET): St. Joseph Business College,‘Ahopanilolo Technical CollegeandMontfort Technical College (see below).The Catholic Church has a number of TVET institutions in Tonga. St. Joseph’s Business College provides training in the areas of business, typing and secretarial work for school leavers. The College also offers in-service training to public and private sector employees. The ‘Ahopanilolo Technical College specialises in the training of staff for the hospitality and tourism industry (including chefs’ training). The College also offers training in Fashion and Design. The Montfort Technical Institute provides training for school leavers in areas such as carpentry, automotive, painting and welding. Although significant in Tongan terms, the Catholic TVET institutions are small scale operations. In 2008, St. Joseph Business College had 125 students. In the same year, there were 70 students at ‘Ahopanilolo and 60 at Montfort.

The National Centre for Vocational Studies (NCVS) is administered by the Ministry of Training, Employment, Youth and Sports. The NCVS provides certificate and diploma programs in tourism and hospitality, agriculture, information technology and international business.

The Tonga Chamber of Commerce and Industry works with foreign aid agencies and other donors to provide in-country training in business skills and entrepreneurship for Tongan business people and their employees. The Chamber’s new Tonga Business Enterprise Centre (TBEC) will play a major role in this area.

c) Higher education

Pre-Tertiary and Tertiary Education

The main tertiary education provider in Tonga is the University of the South Pacific (USP) is located at ‘ Atele, in the village of Ha’ateiho, just outside Nuku’alofa about 7 km from the capital. There are also smaller USP centres located in the Vava’u and the Ha’apai island groups. In 2008, USP enrolments in Tonga were 205 EFTS, with a staff of 20, including about 12 tutors. It offers a range of university-level preliminary, foundation and degree courses by distance through the main centre in Suva, Fiji. The USP also offers certificate-level courses through Continuing Education.

In addition, theRoyal Universityoffers Bachelor of Science degrees in two subjects: Nursing and Business Administration. The highest qualification on offer at the University of Technology is a Master of Business Administration (MBA).

The private ‘Atenisi Institute runs two educational bodies, the ‘Atenisi University and the ‘Atenisi Performing Arts Foundation. Atenisi University, established in August 1975, offers two-year study programs leading to the award of associate diplomas in Arts and Science, Associate of Arts (AA) and Associate of Science (AS), as well as a four-year Bachelor of Arts (BA), a Bachelor of Science (BSc), a Master of Arts (MA) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). The Performing Arts Foundation provides training in choral music and dance. In 2008, the University and Foundation had a combined student population of about 150.

The YWAM Tonga Campus is a small private university run by the Christian organisation Youth With A Mission International. The Tonga Campus runs courses in basic construction techniques, primary health care in addition to discipleship training designed to equip participants for Christian outreach.

Overview of Distance Education

Tonga has a long history of distance education (DE) by Pacific standards. The Ministry of Education began broadcasting weekly, radio-based DE programs as long ago as 1963. However, the main DE provider in Tonga is the University of the South Pacific. The USP Tonga Campus was established as an Extension Centre in 1971. During its early years, the Centre was based in the old Vaiola Hospital in Nuku’alofa. In 1987, the Centre re-located to its present site at ‘Atele.

No information on DE in the school sector was located.

The Pacific Open Learning Health Network (POLHN) has two Learning Centres in Tonga: one at the Queen Salote School of Nursing and another at Vailo Hospital in Vava’u. These facilities are used for the delivery courses in nursing, health and medical technology. POHLN provides a wide range of short, self-paced online courses on health and medical technology using Moodle. These courses are accessible to all. Registration is necessary only when the student intends to sit for the final exam. Passing the final exam allows the student to save or print a Certificate of Achievement. In addition to its own courses, POHLN provides 90 courses from Lippincott’s Nursingcenter.com range and 50 radiology courses from the Philips Online Learning Center.

The US Faith Evangelical College providing DE-based tuition to Tongan students through the local Faith Evangelical College

The main distance education provider in the higher education sector is the University of the South Pacific (USP). Tongan students are able to choose from hundreds of courses at different levels from certificate-level programs to postgraduate qualifications available through the USP’s Distance and Flexible Learning (DFL) program. Printed-based materials form the primary method of distance delivery. These are supplemented by a range of different media: audio/video tapes, CD-ROMs and DVDs, satellite-based videoconferencing and audioconferencing, and e-learning using the Moodle platform. The USP’s goal is to move eventually to fully online delivery.

The USP also offers a Basic Preparatory Program and a number of certificate-level DE courses through its Continuing Education Program. The Basic Preparatory Program is aimed at mature age students and students who had left secondary education early. This program consists of print-based DE courses in Accounting, Biology, Economics, English, Geography, History and Mathematics. Certificate program are typically 3 semesters in duration. The following programmes are currently offered in Tonga: (i) Certificate in Early Childhood Education; (ii) Community Workers Certificate; and (iii) Certificate in Disability Studies

Administration and Finance

The Tongan Government provides some assistance for non-government schools. The annual subsidy for non-government high schools is currently $200 per student (based on the previous year’s enrolment). A higher subsidy of $1,200 per student is paid to three Catholic schools providing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

Australia is the largest aid donor to Tonga and is contributing to improved governance and accountability, stronger economic growth and better service delivery.

Higher Education Reforms

Reform of higher education in Tonga is largely dependent on the direction of USP policies.

Future Direction of Tertiary Education

The future direction of tertiary education in the country depends largely on development at the Tonga Campus of the USP.

Information and Communications Technology Initiatives

a) Information society strategy

The government-owned Tonga Communications Corp (TCC) provides local and international telecom services, including fixed-line connections, mobile phone services and Internet access. There is also a second mobile phone provider in the form of Digicel, which has operated in Tonga since 2008. Deregulation of the mobile phone marked has resulted in sharp declines in call costs and rising mobile phone ownership. By 2007, wifi services were available throughout the main island of Tonga. TCC now provides broad-band as well as dial-up Internet access. However, the major constraint on the development of ICT in the islands is the high cost of satellite bandwidth. The result is that most use of ICT in distance education is on a small scale. An example is the recent pilot project when students from Tonga High School participated in videoconferencing classes at the University of Canterbury. Although successful, this experiment stands little chance of being translated into wider practice as long as Tonga lacks a fibre optic underwater cable.

b) Major e-learning initiatives

None identified.

c) Benchmarking e-learning

None identified.

d) Support for OER

Tonga is a participant in the Commonwealth of Learning’s Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth (VUSSC) project. VUSSC is actively engaged in the development of OER materials for use among member states.

e) Government entities

Ministry of Education, Women’s Affairs & Culture (MEWAC)

Ministry of Training, Employment, Youth and Sports (MOTEYS)

Tonga National Qualification Board (TNQB)

f) Associations and networks

Pacific Association of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (PATVET)

Tonga Association of TVET (TATVET)
Tonga Chamber of Commerce and Industry

g) Distance education journals

None identified.

Interesting Distance Education Initiatives

In 2006, the Tonga Broadcasting Corporation (TBC) developed a community education program for broadcast on radio and television. The documentaries reported on the progress made towards improved living standards in each of the island groups in Tonga, offering different strategies for poverty reduction. The intended audience was government personnel, staff and members of NGOs and ordinary Tongans. Funding for the radio and television series were provided by the UNESCO International Programme for the Development of Communications (IPDC).

The documentaries were broadcast on the TBC radio and TV network to widespread acclaim.

The history of the Distance Education and Communication Centre (DECC) at Pahu provides an example of the challenges facing DE in Tonga. The Centre is part of the Community Development and Training Centre at the TIHE. External funding allowed the Ministry of Education to establish a Distance Education and Research Centre in 1992. The initial role of the Centre was to carry out research into DE and to develop of DE programs for delivery within Tonga. Although the Centre has operated under different names for almost two decades, it has never fulfilled its original purpose in terms of DE. Instead, it role is limited to providing classroom instruction in computer technology to Tongan civil servants, private sector employees and members of the community.

Quality Assurance

The standard of education in Tonga falls under the authority of Quality Assurance division of the Ministry of Education and the Tonga National Qualifications and Accreditation Board (TNQAB).

Secretariat of the Pacific Board of Education Assessment (SPBEA)

The USP has a longer history of dealing with quality assurance issues. It has its own formal Quality Strategy and Quality Assurance Framework. The USP has also benefited from its ties with international quality assurance agencies, including the Australian Universities Quality Agency (AUQA) and the New Zealand Universities Academic Audit Unit (NZUAAU).

The Transnational Qualifications Framework (TQF) for International Accreditation for the Virtual University for the Small States of the Commonwealth (TQF for VUSSC:Procedures and Guidelines) was formally launched in April 2010. It is heralded the introduction of probably the most international, collaborative system for capacity building, skills development and greater access to quality-assured qualifications. Since the VUSSC is not an accrediting or awarding body, the institutions that offer the courses must accredit them locally. The aim of a TQF should be to ensure that all the open educational resources that are being created collaboratively can be adapted into recognised courses that students can take for credit through the recognized institutions of the small states. The TQF is to act as a translation point for modules/units and qualifications between countries. An additional benefit of the TQF may be to discourage bogus providers, which are particularly active in trying to sell fake qualifications in the small states.

Historically Tongan educational achievements were impressive with high attendance rates for boys and girls and 98% literacy. However, Tonga and Vanuatu: Report of the Australian Parliamentary Delegation 2009 documents a gradual decline, partly to do with the standards of teaching and partly to do with resourcing. Public schools have been more affected than church run schools, which have better access to funds. The quality of education has dropped across all areas, but is particularly lacking in science, commerce and mathematics. The quality of teaching has fallen and the quality of training, including teacher training, through the University of the South Pacific (USP), has also declined. Secondary education is still very academically based. If a student is not going on to higher education they leave school early. There is little alternative technical training available. Some Tongan high school graduates need a bridging course to get into an Australian university, which is indicative of the poor standards being reached. To address the problem of decreasing educational standards, Tonga is recruiting more principals and senior teachers from New Zealand. AlthoughTonga is desperately in need of trade skills, the local aspirations are for higher level academic qualifications. Currently, there is no accreditation or certification in Tonga for trade skills.

Regulatory and Policy Framework

The Ministry of Education, Women’s Affairs & Culture (MEWAC) has the primary role in the regulation of pre-school, primary and secondary education. Ministry of Training, Employment, Youth and Sports (MOTEYS) is responsible for the regulation of TVET, although MEWAC retains responsibility for teacher training at the Tonga Institute of Education.

The TNQAB is currently working towards the introduction of new industry skill standards in TVET based on the New Zealand/Australian qualifications framework. Eventually, it is hoped that all TVET providers will be accredited by the TNQAB. This activity is part of the process of establishing a national Tonga Qualifications Framework.

a) International regulatory and policy frameworks

The USP is a member of the Asia-Pacific Quality Network (APQN). The USP is also a member of the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE).

Education for All (EFA)

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

United Nations Literacy Decade

UNESCO’s Four Pillars of Education

United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014)

b) Regional agreements

Tonga is a member of the multi-nation USP consortium.

USP Strategic Plan 2010-2012

Pacific Islands Forum Basic Education Action Plan (FBEAP)

Pacific Regional Initiatives for the Delivery of Basic Education (PRIDE) Project

Pacific Education for Sustainable Development Framework

Pacific Education Development Framework (PEDF) 2009-2015

The Pacific Plan (the Pacific Plan Task Force is managed by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General)

Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth (VUSSC)

c) National regulations and policy

Education Act (1974)

d) State/District regulations and policy

None identified.

e) University policies

Tonga is one of twelve Pacific island states that jointly own the University of the South Pacific. However, the kingdom’s influence over the policies of the USP is likely to be limited due to the small size of the USP cohort in Tonga.