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.