Figure 1.--Here students at the Ha'afeva school raise their flag before school in the morning. The boys wear white shirts and khaki shorts. The girls wear white blouses with jumpers (gym slips). |
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Primary education is now compulsory for all Tongan children. And as a result, the adult literacy rate now exceeds 90 percent. The mission schools use a government syllabus educate about 8 percent of the primary-age children. They play a more important role at the secondary level, educating nearly 90 percent of secondary students. Government primary schools are free, but the children pay a tuition fee at the government high school. The mission schools charge small fees. The country's 115 primary schools and 750 teachers educated about 17,000 children (1993). Only a portion of the primary graduates continue on to the secondary level. Primary schools are taught in Tongan with lessons in English. Small countries like Tonga have to teach English or other major language because so few books are published in Tongan. This means a knowledge of English is ncessary for any studies beyond thec primary level. Children showing academic promise study in English for the New Zealand school certificate examination.
Related Chronolgy Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[Late 19th century]
[The 1930s]
[The 1940s]
[The 1930s]
[The 1940s]
[The 1950s]
[The 1960s]
[The 1970s]
[The 1980s]
Related Style Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[Return to Main Tongan page]
[Return to Main Oceania country pages]
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[Short pants suits]
[Socks]
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[Jacket and trousers]
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