Tag Archives: Tonga

Tonga’s educational history can be traced back to the 1800s when the first formal education system was established. This system was mainly focused on teaching religious and moral values, as well as basic literacy skills. In 1868, a school for higher education was opened in Nuku’alofa, and by the early 1900s there were several primary schools throughout Tonga. In the 1950s, Tonga began to focus more heavily on educational reform. The country introduced compulsory primary education in 1952 and began building more schools to meet the growing demand for education from its population. By 1960, over 250 primary schools had been established across the country, offering access to basic education for all children between 5-14 years of age. In 1978, Tonga adopted a new Education Act which outlined various reforms aimed at improving educational standards in the country. These included increased access to secondary and tertiary education as well as increased funding for teacher training and curriculum development. Since then, Tonga has seen continued improvement in its education system with an increasing number of students enrolling in post-secondary institutions such as universities and technical colleges. As of today, Tonga has a literacy rate of over 98%, making it one of the most educated countries in Oceania. In 2009, Tonga was a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy. The country was ruled by King George Tupou V and the Prime Minister of Tonga at the time was Dr. Feleti Sevele. Tonga’s international relations were largely focused on strengthening ties with its Pacific neighbors, particularly Australia and New Zealand. In 2009, Tonga signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with China, which allowed for increased trade between the two countries and improved economic relations. Tonga also maintained close ties with its regional partners in the South Pacific Forum (SPF). This organization is composed of countries from across Oceania and works to promote regional cooperation on issues such as security and economic development. Tonga had also become an active participant in international organizations such as the United Nations (UN), where it consistently advocated for human rights issues in Oceania. As a member of the UN’s Human Rights Council, Tonga actively promoted respect for human rights throughout the region. At home, Tonga faced various challenges including political unrest due to dissatisfaction with government policies, as well as poverty and inequality throughout much of the country. Despite these challenges, however, Tonga managed to remain relatively stable during this period thanks to its strong diplomatic ties with other nations in the region. Check naturegnosis for Tonga in 2001.