Counting the Cost of Education in Tonga
Of the South Pacific’s fourteen countries, Tonga is one of the smallest, with a population of just 109,000 people, and one of its more impoverished nations.
While many improvements have been made to the quality of education in Tonga, the cost of annual fees at secondary and tertiary levels price many families out of the school system.
Primary school education is compulsory from the ages of 6-14 [1]. Attendance is free of charge and 97% of children are registered. These figures drop dramatically at secondary level however, with only 75% of students going on to higher education.
At issue is the cost of attendance, with most secondary schools requiring fees. Students complete three years of junior secondary, from the ages of 12-15, and three years of senior secondary, from ages 15-18 [1]. Fees are estimated at T$900-T$1100 (USD $400-500) per year, plus uniform and textbook requirements. With an average annual wage of T$10,000 (USD $4,000) [3], many families cannot afford to keep their children in school.
The Kingdom of Tonga is an archipelago of 176 small islands, of which about 50 are inhabited. Western missionaries set up the first modern schools in the late 1800s and private church groups are still heavily involved in the country’s education system. There are about 41 high schools, of which only a quarter are administered by the government, and 118 primary schools (107 government and 11 church schools) [2]. Some 72% of secondary-aged students study at non-government, private schools.
The education sector is funded by a combination of government, international donors, churches, and private sources [2]. Many schools are dependent on fees and fund-raising activities for financing teacher salaries. Parent-teacher associations often help fund operating costs and essential maintenance.
Although there are some post-secondary agricultural, medical, nursing, and teaching education programs in Tonga, those who can afford to often choose to pursue their studies overseas, mainly in New Zealand and Australia. Many families rely on remittances sent by relatives living outside Tonga. It is estimated that some 200,000 Tongans—more than double the current population of the kingdom—now live in other countries, including New Zealand, Australia, and the United States.
Of those who remain, one in every five Tongans—22%—live below the poverty line, earning less than T$900 (USD $400) a month. In particular, those living on outlying islands struggle to find paid work and access education. External events have also worsened the conditions for many, including the 2008 global financial crisis and the Corona pandemic, which have resulted in a dramatic drop in tourism, as well as skyrocketing costs for imported fuel and food. In recent years, two major cyclones in 2018 and 2020, and a devastating tsunami in 2022 caused significant losses to the country’s infrastructure, with many schools also reporting damage to facilities.
The country is dependent on grants from international organisations, including The World Bank, which is heavily involved in Tonga’s education system through its Skills and Employment for Tongans (SET) Project [4].
In 2020, more than 2,000 high school students received financial grants from The World Bank to help with school fees and other educational costs. The project is also working towards establishing vocational education and training programmes to help students who have dropped out of the school system to learn employable skills.
With your support, we can help thousands of young people in Tonga gain better work opportunities by giving them access to the secondary education they deserve. Donate today and help us provide quality education and create a lasting impact on the lives of Tongan kids.
References
Retrieved from https://education.stateuniversity.com/pages/1540/Tonga.html
Retrieved from https://neqmap.bangkok.unesco.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Tonga-Education-Policy-Framework-2004-2019.pdf
Retrieved from https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.CD?locations=TO
Retrieved from https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2018/11/21/skills-and-employment-project-kicks-off-in-tonga