ON Monday 2 May, 2011, a team of educators from the Legislative Assembly of Tonga embarked on a parliamentary awareness initiative by visiting a number of selected secondary schools in Vava’u, Ha’apai, ‘Eua and Tongatapu. The team is led by the Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Lord Tu’i'afitu and includes the Assembly’s Education Officer, Dr. Sione Vikilani and Legislative Counsel, Ms Seinimili Fonua.
The visits are part of the Legislative Assembly’s overall “Education and Public Outreach Programme” and emphasizes the Assembly’s commitment to the political reform process by being more representative and transparent. The initiative is also in response to the new topics introduced to the Form 2 curriculum by the Ministry of Education, “Tongan Society and Culture”, which focuses in part on the makeup and function of the Legislative Assembly. The Form 5 curriculum also covers certain aspects of the Legislative Assembly.
“Since the implementation of the new curriculum, the office of the Legislative Assembly has been inundated with student inquiries related to the work of the Assembly. Rather than waiting for students to come to us, it makes more sense to go to them”, said Dr. Vikilani.
The Education and Public Outreach programme is a new development by the Legislative Assembly of Tonga which is supported and funded by AusAid, NZAID and UNDP.
Schedule:
May 2rd and 3rd Vava’u
Visit Vava’u High School (Afternoon 3rd)
Visit Vava’u Side School (Afternoon 3rd)
Visit Tailulu College (Morning 4th)
Visit Mailefihi Siu’ilikutapu Colleges (Morning 4th )
May 4th and 5th Ha’apai
Visit Ha’apai High School ( Afternoon 4th)
Visit Pilolevu Taufa’ahau college (Afternoon 4th)
Visit Tailulu College (Morning 5th)
May 9th and 10th ‘Eua
Visit ‘Eua High School (Morning 9th)
Visit LDS Tongamama’o (Afternoon 10th)
May 11th to the 20th the rest of Tongatapu.
Visit Tonga Side School
Visit Tonga High School
Visit Queen Salote College
Visit Tapunisiliva College
Visit ‘Apifo’ou College